Gimme Gimme Never Gets

by Anita Benedict

As I was contemplating what to write this week, a light bulb went off in my head. There is one thing that has been bothering

me for several years; people who take advantage of others, especially advantage of older individuals.

   Whether it be a phone scam, online, or a distraction method to steal a purse, as I have been reading about, or someone pretending to be a friend. The worst one is when someone willingly takes things that have value, but the person has no idea about that. The honest thing to do is at least offer to pay, or say, this has value and you may want to sell it.

   Everyone loves things for free, myself included, but I wouldn’t charge a person through the nose for a service and then

take things from them for free., especially if that person has done things for me for free that otherwise would cost a lot.

   I am thankful I do know people who give and give of their time and expect nothing in return, or those who do trade off. Thanks

for the (item) I will help you garden sort of thing. I was once told “Don’t drive (person) around for nothing, they can afford to pay.”

Can they? How do you know? And I knew for a fact they could not.

   My mantra has been, if I invite you, no need to pay. If you hire me, I might take some gas money. Then again, I might not

because I enjoy the outing or run errands for myself. If I can help someone I will, if I can’t I won’t, simple as that.

  The one thing I won’t do is take advantage of another. That is as bad as the Grinch taking the last can of Who Hash or the lightbulbs. 

   At least in the end he put everything back.

   Just my little rant for the day.