&%@$# the Money

My grandma used to say that all the time.  If there was some little thing she wanted to do, and she had the cash, she would do it.  It's only money.

We learned a valuable lesson about this eight years ago.  Close friends of ours were getting married soon.  The IBEW had no work for hubby, with none in sight.  Times were tough.  I was six months pregnant with our youngest, and we still had one in diapers.  We didn't have enough in the budget to write out a nice check for a wedding present, especially according to hubby's code of honor which means you have to at least "pay for your plate" at a fancy affair.  With heavy hearts, we sent regrets.  

Our friends begged us to reconsider.  &%@$# the money, they said.  It wouldn't be right for them to miss us on their special day just because we couldn't write a check.  It was the event that mattered.  We got lots of phone calls about it, and finally the groom spoke with hubby and got their strong message across.  Our friendship is priceless.  Reflecting on that gave us great perspective, which was wonderful timing as we were about to bring another child into the world.  We attended the wedding, and they were very emotional in their appreciation.

Why am I telling this story?  I recalled this situation because we know someone who is now struggling with a similar dilemma.  I thought it was a good opportunity to tell all my friends that their friendship is priceless.  And always will be.