Why I'll Never Have Lots of Money

You know those friends that save you? The ones who meet you at the doctor's office to help with crowd control on a moment's notice, the ones that bring dinner when everyone is sick or all of a sudden you have 2 more kids? My very good friend asked me to finish a quilt for her because she was in a pinch and knew I have a little mending business. She asked how much charged and I told her I had never done quilting for money, but gave her my hourly rate. She told me to keep track of my hours and she'd happily pay me whatever.

So I priced what machine quilting costs (it's kind of a lot around here and usually there's a rush fee or a waiting list) and I kept track of my hours. But as I was sewing I calculated how much this would cost her. Then I also started thinking of her and this quilt. She was making it as a gift for a dear friend (of coarse does she ever do anything for herself?) and she didn't get it done because she had to fly out and be with her son back East (again she's off helping someone else) and she would do it when she got back, but her friend was coming to visit and she wanted to give it to her in person. Long story short, I decided there is no way I am charging her.

I think it's about stinking time someone saved her, and helped her out for free, just because she is that wonderful. And really all the time I spent sewing really doesn't touch the hours she spent doing nice things for me, let alone what she does for all the people she loves.

This is bad business, but then I thought of that closing scene in "It's a Wonderful Life" where Harry toasts George and says, "To my brtoher George, the richest man in town." I think I'd rather be that kind of rich. Rich with good friends, just like my good friend.

Here's some shots of the quilt. It's not my taste or hers, but her friend is from Idaho and loves this sort of stuff.

So, to the lucky lady who recieves this nice gift: You are a very lucky lady, I know what a good friend you have.