This is a bitter sweet discussion

@Loverbear (4918)
United States
April 17, 2012 2:25pm CST
Before I start with the real point of the discussion, I will post some background. Those of you who know the whole story that I am posting, please bear with me. Two years ago I had borrowed a sewing machine from my neighbors and close friends. It was a sewing machine I had sold to the wife when my Mom died in 2000. The sewing machine that I sold them was a Janome Memory Craft 8000. Remember this because it comes to play later in the post. The sewing machine is computerized and does wonderful embroidery work, most of it equivalent to appliques that you pay tons of money for. I asked to borrow the machine so I could do an extra special quilt for my boyfriend, Bill. I got the machine from them and did the embroidery work...as a thank you I was going to take the machine in for a tune up (cleaning, adjusting, oiling etc.) but the husband came down for the machine. I gathered up all the parts and put the machine together for him to take home. The next thing I knew all hell broke loose because the woman decided that the machine I sent back wasn't her machine. Of course I was beside myself because I don't steal! I tried to explain but it didn't work. They called day and night harassing me about the sewing machine, wanting the one they loaned me back. They wouldn't listen to what I had to say. So, I finally decided not to take their calls and let things settle down. A few weeks later I was served with a summons for small claims court. In the summons it stated that I had sold them a Bernina sewing machine that was worth $4000 and that was how much they were suing me for. WOW! Anyhow, before court I did research and also got statements from the people that I sold the other machines my Mom had. I went into court with 20 file folders full of information. The couple went into court with one sheet of paper. They claimed it was written by their attorney. There was no letter head on the paper, and no signature or identifying marks of the person who typed it. The first line was "Jane Doe is a liar and a thief"...I don't know of any attorney who would write the kind of slander that was in that letter. Of course the letter tipped the scales in my favor. Long story short, I won the case and bought the sewing machine back for $300. The couple tried to get me evicted from my home, claiming that I was a thief, but the head of the home owners association had some brains and asked if I broke into the house or if I borrowed the machine. When the man finally admitted that I had borrowed the machine they told him to shut up and get out, that they knew full well that I didn't steal. Fast forwarding a bit, the wife turned out to have Alzheimer's and passed away December 1, 2010. The husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. During that time he also developed dementia. In his befuddled state he misplaced all of his wife's jewelry. He promptly decided that it was stolen and I was the one who did the stealing. Same story with his wallet and the carburetor for his motor home. He started spreading the false rumors about my being a thief and this time he was stopped very quickly by another home owner when he stated to the man that I could own him because of the slanderous remarks he was making. The man settled down. The pair have made a lot of lives pure hell. Their son moved cross country to get away from them. The wife of the pair ruined the son's marriage by pushing him to divorce his wife while she was home helping her Mom after her Dad had died. She had only been gone three days and on the fifth day she was served with divorce papers. Saying that the couple weren't very nice would be like saying that the Pope was only slightly Catholic. They weren't well liked and people didn't even go near them (for fear of being sued. The husband had instituted 25 small claims suits in 30 years) and barely said hello to the couple. Why all the story before the final reason for the post, because I wanted everyone to know "why" I am posting this. I just got the news from a neighbor that the husband had passed away last Sunday. I am torn between several emotions. I am relieved that I don't have the worry about the husband making unfounded accusations. I feel bad for him because he spent his life more concerned about money than other people. As many people have stated, "Money was the man's God". I feel bad because he died alone in a nursing home with no friends or family to give a darn about him. Unfortunately the sense of relief far outweighs any other feelings that I may have for the husband or his wife. They went out of their way to make my life a living hell, when all I did was give them friendship and love. I hope he finds peace and an education about life and treating people with love and respect from where ever he is now. I just feel sorry for the person who is executor of the estate. He has a load of work ahead of him!!!
3 people like this
2 responses
@TheIzers (680)
17 Apr 12
Thanks for sharing this such experience of life. Story like this can motivate anyone of us to be a better person everyday, to think about treating other people the way we want to be treated and to live our life to the fullest. Thank you
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 Apr 12
I had kind of lost track of where this story was. I was familiar with much of it. It is sad. It makes you see the need to be kind and positive with those who are around you. It seems to have been a crazy crazy life all the way around for them. It is a shame to be so tight fisted that you cannot open your hands and arms to receive any kind of blessing that comes to you.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
17 Apr 12
The saddest part of their lives is that anyone that came to them simply to love them and give to them were considered to be wanting something from them, instead of accepting the love freely given. They couldn't open their hearts, hands and arms to others in need. They felt people in need brought their problems on to themselves. I feel so bad for the couple that they never felt the joy of giving without strings or expectations, that giving to another in need and not judge the person. It strikes me so horrible that they even held on to their clothing that they no longer used rather than donate it to a thrift shop so that someone else who was on a tight budget could use it. Their daughter in law took a huge truck and trailer load to donate to our local Goodwill, the couple were livid! They accused the daughter in law of stealing the clothing and selling it for herself and keeping the profits. They couldn't part with anything without making sure that they made some money from it. What kind of life is that?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
18 Apr 12
They impoverished themselves in the only way people can be rich, that is in their relationships. Gold is cold and does not give back, and nothing you can own can take the place of love.