I feel the need to respond here. Forgive me now if I get windy.
Be careful daredevil Pete ... I typed those same "I'm Broke" words a few days ago solely in an effort to get my customers to include a deposit with their parts so I could cover my working expenses. The next morning I was the subject of a FABO fund raising effort I knew absolutely nothing about, had no prior warning of, and didn't expect in a million years.
By the time I found out about it, the ball was already rolling and my shop's paypal account was posted for all the world to click on. Despite my public objection, donations were made anyway. I wasn't sure how to handle the explosion and controlling it was beyond my ability.
I made 3 phone calls. To DRENO first, who started the fund raiser thread. Then Memike and Ramcharger, who were both unexpecting beneficiaries of earlier FABO fund raisers and both of whom are customers I now consider to be very good friends. None of them were available when I called.
But Memike and Ramcharger returned my calls within the hour. Truth be told, I was kinda waiting for them to say something first in this thread. But in speaking with each of them, I guess I have to let it out that they felt exactly the same feelings I've been going through ever since the thing started on my behalf. My first instinct was to refund every one of them for a variety of reasons: I don't deserve it. I did nothing to earn it. I felt guilty. I'm positive there are hundreds in a worse boat than I'm in because I have a roof over my head, and food on the table, and some great customers to work for.
I didn't ask for this. If the situation was crucial or life threatening, I wouldn't even ask then. It's just not the way I do things. I was raised to work hard and do the best I can with what I have, same as you Pete. I feel awful that you singled me out in your post, albeit without mentioning my name (like we've had so many fund raising efforts for business owners around here lol), but please understand it was totally beyond my control and done without my knowledge.
One of my customers was surprised to learn today that I was a victim of Hurricane Katrina almost five years ago. (That's why it's "Phoenix" Specialty Coatings by the way ... risin from the ashes of disaster and all that.) Believe you me honey, I know exactly what it's like to be broke. My car -- the one I've had for 19 years and still haven't finished -- and a few clothes survived ... and Billy didn't have me listed as an insured on the policy. The law firm I'd worked for for 2 years relocated 75 miles away from home and my daily driver '83 Mustang GT was destroyed; I got fired for not showing up the day before my 40th birthday 2 weeks after the storm. We lived with Billy's parents for 13 months until we relocated here to the middle-of-effin-nowhere Tennessee after buying this house on the internet sight unseen. The closest lawyers were 60 miles away, so I hung up my powder coating shingle and turned a hobby into a business on May 31, 2007.
We still don't have any furniture. Vacation?!? My last one was in 2002. But we've got a great house, a 30x40 shop I can work in, our health, our hot rods and our kitties. Compared to the salary I used to pull in as a paralegal, there's never been more than a grand in the bank since we moved. But thanks to this little car forum right here that I openly love and adore so much, business is really picking up, you guys are keeping me busy on a daily basis (with overtime), and one of these days I know in my heart that things will be better.
You might not have ever noticed, but I've never been able to kick in any cash for any FABO fund raiser ever. I do donate Gift Certificates regularly though ... because it's all I can do right now. But I love doing it and helping other people in any way I can and don't pass up the opportunity when it comes along.
So now that I've revealed a lot more about my personal life than I ever cared to, maybe you can understand how the FABO donations the last few days have seemed almost like winning the lottery. The comment about "only 50 replies in a 1000 views" referred to earlier didn't translate into fifty donations, but $1,500 is a total windfall compared to the way life has been the last five years. I am beyond grateful. And as the thread originator wanted, I have been able to relax a little bit and enjoy a little cushion. It's not a familiar feeling at all and I still wanna throw up half the time.
I spent $38 on some new ink cartridges so I can print out my Gift Certificates and became a Gold member today. But that's it. I've gotten some great advice from a few people and have a couple little plans up my sleeve.
What this all comes down to is that FABO has a lot of members -- over 14,000 of them -- and those members are made up of good, caring people who still give a damn about their fellow man. It's obvious in the everyday posts where advice and parts are freely given ... in the moral support we lend each other in restoration threads ... the informal welcoming committee who comes out of the woodwork to make our new members feel at home ... and in the very public ways we help when someone falls on hard times. Let's face it. FABO isn't your average motorhead forum. And as dustermaniac said so well, there's no way to help everyone.
But helping one is better than none at all.
I remember very well a certain awesome guy who took it upon himself to pass out a few hundred hot dogs to some hungry people after a catastrophe in Texas awhile back. That guy's still around helping people as he can ... but he's just got a few other priorities right now. :-D
Sorry about the novel. Hope I didn't lose a cup size getting all of that off my chest.
