A Customer To Remember

[Deese]

Thanks for sharing 

[customsawyer]

Interesting that the ones a person would be the most honored to help are the ones that want to do it on there own.

[SawyerBrown]

And, some of the ones that have the least are the most willing to share.  Our church is heavily involved in missionary work in Liberia, and the folks that have gone say the people there share the best of the food they have, even though they don't know where the next day's meal is coming from.  Oh, to have that kind of faith ...

[dean herring]

Do we know where this lady lives? We could send her help  thru the mail she would not know where it came from. Of course we not want to offend her in any way. Just a thought.

[Solomon]

Ok... Devil's  Advocate here.
Just doing the math (if you good folks will indulge me for a moment) ,   Why is she "BUILDING" a table  ???
Why did She not go to a Flea Market ,  Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
  Assumming she had reason to build a table, she appearently has the tools and skills to do so ???????
It was said  "She didn't look like a wood worker".
If she were that poor,  it's not likely she'd have any tools either.
Now if someone was building one for her,  ( a wood worker for example),  He'd likely have a couple of very nice boards laying around left over from another job.
I know I do.  I could raise about ten more questions but I think I've made my prespective clear.
The whole thing just doesn't make sense.  But then  again,
a woman is a creature that will never be understood by a man.
Who knows why Women do the things they do.
In Womens defence, without them, there would be absolutely no decencey or morality in this world, and we would destroy ourselves.

[Magicman]

I also had a woman customer wanting to build a table for herself and her disabled (wheelchair) husband.  She wanted 2X6 Oak and she intended to do it herself.  LINK

My point is to not try to second guess a customer, whether paying or not.  A person's pride should not be questioned, but rather supported.  I always attempt to give such jobs away, but remember that "giving" goes both ways.  Sometimes to refuse payment denies the customer the opportunity to "give", which is why Reply #22 was important to me.

[Dave Shepard]

Her "table" might just have been that board and a couple of milk crates on each end.

[Ocklawahaboy]

Ok... Devil's  Advocate here.
Just doing the math (if you good folks will indulge me for a moment) ,   Why is she "BUILDING" a table  ???
Why did She not go to a Flea Market ,  Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
  Assumming she had reason to build a table, she appearently has the tools and skills to do so ???????
It was said  "She didn't look like a wood worker".
If she were that poor,  it's not likely she'd have any tools either.
Now if someone was building one for her,  ( a wood worker for example),  He'd likely have a couple of very nice boards laying around left over from another job.
I know I do.  I could raise about ten more questions but I think I've made my prespective clear.
The whole thing just doesn't make sense.  But then  again,
a woman is a creature that will never be understood by a man.
Who knows why Women do the things they do.
In Womens defence, without them, there would be absolutely no decencey or morality in this world, and we would destroy ourselves.

We all know there are lots of ways of being frugal.
The OP said the car would barely hold the boards.  That could be a reason for not buying a table. Have to get it home. Any number of other factors, perceptions, preferences could be in play. 
Any way you cut it, the OP had a great story about a loving mother trying to do the best for her son, instead of shirking her responsibility like so many parents do these days.

[5quarter]

X2 Dave.

Why did She not go to a Flea Market ,  Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
 

Solomon...you're assuming she has chairs.

YH...great story. I've had a couple similar customers. Good for you resisting the urge to give the lumber away.

[pine]

Interesting that the ones a person would be the most honored to help are the ones that want to do it on there own.

Oh so true.  The quality people are as you say.

[sandsawmill14]

Ok... Devil's  Advocate here.
Just doing the math (if you good folks will indulge me for a moment) ,   Why is she "BUILDING" a table  ???
Why did She not go to a Flea Market ,  Thrift store or Yard sale and buy one for a couple of bucks.
  Assumming she had reason to build a table, she appearently has the tools and skills to do so ???????
It was said  "She didn't look like a wood worker".
If she were that poor,  it's not likely she'd have any tools either.
Now if someone was building one for her,  ( a wood worker for example),  He'd likely have a couple of very nice boards laying around left over from another job.
I know I do.  I could raise about ten more questions but I think I've made my prespective clear.
The whole thing just doesn't make sense.  But then  again,
a woman is a creature that will never be understood by a man.
Who knows why Women do the things they do.
In Womens defence, without them, there would be absolutely no decencey or morality in this world, and we would destroy ourselves.

have you ever hauled a table in a hatchback ???

I was given 2 5000 bushel grain bins one time but had no way to move them.

[Magicman]

Ok... Devil's  Advocate here.......

Fact is, I would never place myself as the "Devil's Advocate" in this situation nor question her intentions or motives.  It also matters not whether the customer is a woman or a man.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Right on Lynne.
I have given away many miscut boards to folks who appeared needy, and got a heart felt thanks in return.
Makes a good day.

[tcg]

What an example of multiple blessing from one simple act!
This nice lady was able to find someone to help her achieve her goal.
She'll be able to provide a table for her and her son.
Yellowhammer was blessed by his opportunity to help her.
By sharing his story he generated a good discussion reminding us that one does not have to look to far to find someone who has it worse off than ourselves.
That is all irregardless of her situation.

Thanks for making us think.

[SawyerBrown]

tcg, agree with everything you said!

Well, except "irregardless" ... there is no such word, irregardless of how much it gets (mis)used ...   ;D

[sandsawmill14]

What an example of multiple blessing from one simple act!
This nice lady was able to find someone to help her achieve her goal.
She'll be able to provide a table for her and her son.
Yellowhammer was blessed by his opportunity to help her.
By sharing his story he generated a good discussion reminding us that one does not have to look to far to find someone who has it worse off than ourselves.
That is all irregardless of her situation.

Thanks for making us think.

x2 

[tcg]

Thanks for the positive comments.

I have to admit Sawyerbrown you had me thinking (which is a good thing) about my use of irregardless.
So I checked with Webster and it is listed as a word. My use of it certainly showed my age.
Regardless would have been a better choice.

Thank-you
tcg

[Magicman]

In the early 20th century English, irregardless was a word and ain't wasn't. 

Now ain't is and irregardless ain't.   ;D

[Peter Drouin]

In the early 20th century English, irregardless was a word and ain't wasn't. 

Now ain't is and irregardless ain't.   ;D

smiley_dizzy smiley_dizzy :D

[GDinMaine]

In the early 20th century English, irregardless was a word and ain't wasn't. 

Now ain't is and irregardless ain't.   ;D

That is why I like reading this forum.  Because, I spent the last few minutes reading about the word: IRRIGARDLESS on various pages. I disagree with the use of it, but none the less it made me look.  :P