Greg Leake emails:
Hi Rabbs,
Ten bucks!! Are you kidding me!!?
I’ll tell you the biggest reason that your delivery indcident ticks me off in a minute
First I would like to point out that if you could purchase gas for $2.50 a gallon (which is just a fantasy in our present world), it would have required $200 just to pay for the mechanics. This would be completely outside of any consideration for your time and trouble. And having just moved out of a city, as your know, 50 miles through traffic lights and freeways is no joke. And then this guy throws 10 bucks at you?
Then, of course, you’re so obviously frum that the rabbi would have had to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to see that you were a member of the club. I, of course, have never gotten why dressing a certain way is supposed to be an insight into a man’s character, but what-the-hey. I’m part of the goyim and so I wouldn’t get it anyway. However, it’s supposed to mean something to this rabbi.
I’ll tell you the thing about it that bothers me the most. You deliver this thousand pounds of food, and the dude looks at you, and what does he see? Does he see an 18-year old kid who just delivered something from the supermarket? Does he see some schlub that the big shots use to run errands? Does he see some inconsequential go-fer who is completely dismissible?
No. He sees a 50-year old man. 50. Not some kid who runs around for Ralph’s. A mature, 50-year old man who should have the right to a little dignity. And it’s the affront to your dignity that pisses me off.
By this time in life you have paid your dues. You’ve earned a little respect by virtue of the years and the maturity and the battles fought. Not to mention the losses suffered along with the wins. You shouldn’t be treated like some inconsequential bug that gets swept out.
I would say that $35 would have been at the barely excusable low end that might have been offered with an apology because of limeted funds. $50 or $70 would have been acceptable if you had not just used up a hundred in gas. And I would say about $100 for you to be acknowledged as a 50-year old man who had done this nub a favor. With $100 or more, there would have been some kind of exchange of equality in the transaction.
As you know, my wife and I recently moved out of Dallas, and I gave each of the movers a hundred on top of the fee because they were good guys who worked their asses off.
So my biggest grievance is the way this guy just dismissed you with a financial affront to your dignity. He didn’t acknowledge the fact that you deserve respect.
Go to the videotape 27 minutes in.
