“Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,” From Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Wise words and a lesson I seem to refuse to learn. Seldom do I borrow, but at the first sign of need I lend; money to friends who later can not repay, time to causes that don’t fulfill their promises. Something in my heart jumps at the opportunity to help out and feel good about it. Human nature or simply a wish for appreciation?
The latest proof of this sage advice was several months ago. I have not written of it for fear of offending the parties involved. Yet, this morning when I went to retrieve a favorite pair of cowboy boots my heart sank and I was reminded, once again of the famous line.
A friend put out the word, her teen-aged daughter needed cowboy girl boots for a costume. I responded that I had a collection she could choose from if her feet were the same size as mine. They showed up one evening and I had a selection for her to try. I made a point of giving the history of my more expensive boots. Though her feet were larger, she opted for my favorite red boots. These were special. These were the personal design of Dale Evans and the Lucchese boot company was not allowed to retail the design until her death. These were my ‘signature’ boots. I watched them head out the door and felt like I had done something really good in sharing them.
The next day dawned rainy, I gave some thought to my boots but figured she would take care of them after the story I had told. It was a week before the boots ended up back on my doorstep. I had a message from the Mom that she had left them under the eaves, wrapped in plastic bags as it was still raining. I retrieved them when I came home. The plastic bag was a waste of time. They were beyond recovery. White water marks scarred the red leather, they were waterlogged and had obviously been worn by a foot larger than mine, causing them to stretch and collapse into misshapen, sodden remnants of their former glory. I tried to refurbish them but the foot-bed was permanently wrinkled, causing a blister on the sole of my foot. The leather was cracked and stained.
A friend once found herself unemployed and borrowed some money. The loan was paid back eventually, but it put a strain on our relationship. The second time she asked, I also agreed but with a stricter repayment schedule. The third time, with the second loan delinquent and the first barely paid back, I said no and the relationship was forever scarred.
Either give it, wholly and freely, or don’t give it at all…neither a borrower nor a lender be…
Therapeutic Misadventures 
As one who understands what it’s like to look a cherished, albeit ‘material’, item of clothing, I nevertheless applaud your good intentions. Sad though and extremely frustrating when others don’t share a sense of respect and responsibility. I think there are those (few?) others who simply have a warped sense of entitlement and are ‘takers’ to the core.
On a lighter note, I couldn’t help but sing along with Gilligan and company when I read your post title! 🙂
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Thanks Julie! I had forgotten about that song…now it’s stuck in my head too!!
As to the boots, I guess I should have known better than to lend to a teenager. Sigh…
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There once was a time, when…but not anymore
Weeping over the boots. Once that “perfect” pair of boots finds you, there is now way to explain their worth.
Astute line. Hard lessons. Do love that illustration.
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Thanks Phil. I do love my cowgirls!
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No good deed goes unpunished. Yet, good people still do good deeds. I have never understood how people can take advantage of someone else’s generosity. Personally, I blame the mother for not ensuring her daughter understood the responsibility connected to borrowing (despite she is a teenager and should already know)
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Sigh, I know Laura. I was always taught to return a borrowed item in the same of better shape than when you took it…put more gas in the car, or whatever…
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That’s a shame, but I hope you don’t stop giving. Lending maybe, but not giving.
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You are right, I have learned the lesson of the difference between “giving” and “lending” and will not put myself in that situation again…
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It’s a hard lesson indeed. Like you I have always been a lander but not a borrower and I’ve often ended up disappointed and embarrassed when repayment doesn’t come and I don’t like to keep asking. After the loan of quite a large sum of money when promises to repay came again and again but sadly no actual money I decided I would never lend again. If I can’t afford to give with no prospect of return then I will say no. So far I’ve stuck to this.
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Marie, that is a really good policy and one I will now adopt. Aside from money, I have lent my vehicle only to have it come back empty of fuel and full of fast food trash…what is wrong with people??!!
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Thank you for writing this post.
I have similar experiences. Those who don’t take care of your things would actually demand good care of their things if you need to borrow from them. Ah! Bad manners.
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Bad manners are never acceptable, lessons learned! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!!
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You are most welcome!
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