Title: Friend Delays Gift, Leaving Woman in Distress: Is She Being Unreasonable?
Subtitle: A 35-Year Friendship Strains as Promised Quilt Remains Undelivered
Date: [Current Date]
In a heart-wrenching story of broken promises and unfulfilled expectations, a woman in her 50s finds herself longing for a quilt made from T-shirts she collected throughout her travels. Despite entrusting her best friend of 35 years with the task, the quilt remains unfinished two years later.
The woman, who now resides over 1,000 miles away from her friend, had put considerable effort into creating a meaningful gift for her companion. She painstakingly crafted a big and beautiful counted cross-stitch, which she custom-framed before personally delivering it.
As a gesture of gratitude, the friend offered to make a quilt using the logos and graphics cut from the traveler’s cherished T-shirts. Elated by the prospect of preserving her memories in a physical form, the woman eagerly sent the pieces to her friend, who assured her that the project would only take a week.
However, time passed, and the quilt never materialized. The disappointed woman has repeatedly reached out to her friend, desperately seeking answers, but has only encountered empty promises. Meanwhile, the friend found time to complete various crochet and cross-stitch projects for her extended family and remodel her kitchen.
Deeply hurt by the ordeal, the woman contemplates requesting the return of the T-shirt pieces. With no progress made on the quilt and facing the inability to replace the irreplaceable logos, she hopes to hire someone else to complete the long-awaited gift.
But is she being unreasonable? Seeking advice, the woman turns to Miss Manners, the renowned etiquette expert. According to Miss Manners, the woman should approach her friend gently, expressing her longing for the quilt while acknowledging the friend’s busy schedule. The expert suggests the woman say something along the lines of, “Ever since you mentioned that quilt, I have dreamt of having it with all of those priceless memories on my wall. But I know how busy you are, so if you wouldn’t mind returning the T-shirts, I think I’ll take a stab at doing it myself.”
Miss Manners further recommends sending an oversized self-addressed stamped envelope, removing any excuses for the friend and eliminating the need for the woman to embark on another 1,000-mile journey.
This heartrending tale sheds light on the complexities of long-term friendships and the emotional impact of unfulfilled promises. It serves as a reminder for us all to honor our commitments and consider the feelings of those we care about.
Miss Manners continues to offer her insightful advice through her columns, available Monday through Saturday on washingtonpost.com/advice. If you have any questions for Miss Manners, visit her website, missmanners.com, or follow her on Twitter @RealMissManners.