Kelvin eagerly opened the envelope he’d just been handed by his best friend Stu. Inside were pictures from Kelvin’s recent wedding. They were blurred and grainy. Kelvin’s dis-appointment grew with each new photo.
“This is some kind of joke, right?” He stuffed the photos back in the envelope and tossed them at Stu.
“What do you mean?” asked Stu.
“These are…crap!”
“You don’t like them?”
“No, I don’t.”
“I used some very expensive high-speed film to achieve those effects. I’m sorry you don’t like them. C’mon, Kelvin! Give a guy a break for doing you a favor to save you some money.”
“Look, I never asked you to photograph my wedding. You offered your services free of charge as a gift. You’re a photographer—yet there’s not one usable print here.”
Stu felt struck. “I can’t believe you just talked down to me like that! I would never do that to a friend.”
Kelvin countered with some choice words and the argument escalated. The groom felt shortchanged; the photographer believed his artistry and effort were not appreciated. Two friends parted that day and never spoke to one another again.
Years later, each would wonder whatever happened to the other. Kelvin learned that Stu was an art director for a popular fashion magazine; Stu heard from a mutual friend that Kelvin and his wife had just celebrated their 10th anniversary by exchanging their vows again. Both men realized that they had in-appropriately weighted their disappointment with one another and ended what was once a solid friendship. And they each wondered what life would’ve been like had things turned out differently.
Sometimes it’s not who’s right or wrong that matters; it’s whether the matter gets resolved.
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Comments (2)
I didn't have very good relationships with my mother and my brother growing up. This resulted in resentment in my adult years. Based on a church class, I decided to write an amends letter to my mother and speak my amends to my brother in person. I gathered the courage to put into words (writing) all the ways I may have wronged them in the past, without asking for their forgiveness or offering excuses. After I gave my mom the letter I felt relieved. The experience with my brother was a lot harder because it was in person and I had to listen to his reaction. All in all both experiences were positive ones. Since then, I have released all of the emotions tied to the past and can now be more fully in the present moment with my family allowing me greater fulfillment in our relationships.
Posted by OG | July 11, 2007 10:51 AM
Posted on July 11, 2007 10:51
Things that keep us a part
As a young man I had many mentors that helped me along the way. One person in particular taught me how to tie a tie and shake hands with a firm grip. He also gave me good advice on being a positive person and getting a college education. After going to college I lost contact with this gentelman but always wanted to go back and thank him for his advice. I thought I would go back after I became a success, which I thought was a high paying job and a big title. Once I thought I had achieved those things I learned that this person had died. After that I made it a point to visit all those people who had helped me along the way. I recently visited a friend (now 82) who had given me my first job in college. Although I had not seen this person in 30 years he was extremely grateful when I told how much his advice and council had helped me. We did not discuss my job or status but talked about things that happened in the past. He said he had wondered what had happened to me all those years and started to cry. Although my list is long I am now taking the time to thank all those wonderful people. I just wish I had done this sooner.
Posted by Mike Vandervort | July 11, 2007 1:02 PM
Posted on July 11, 2007 13:02