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The end of a friendship

edgecamedgecam Member Posts: 3,280
edited September 2012 in General Discussion
I have been friends with a guy for over 20 years, He was the best man in my wedding and I in his. About 6 months ago he started drinking more then usual and running around on his wife. We sat down and had good talk and he seemed to straighten out. I found out over the weekend that he is back at it again. I tried talking with him but he didn't want to listen. I told him I am done with it and if he decides to straighten up to give me a call.


I hate to throw away a 20 year friendship but sometimes you have to grow up and move on.

Comments

  • dcon12dcon12 Member Posts: 32,040 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Perhaps his wife is the reason he is drinking more than usual. Don
  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 60,240 ******
    edited November -1
    Dam,that suxs. But you are right.
  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 26,285 ******
    edited November -1
    Oh, he'll call.
  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by edgecam
    I have been friends with a guy for over 20 years, He was the best man in my wedding and I in his. About 6 months ago he started drinking more then usual and running around on his wife. We sat down and had good talk and he seemed to straighten out. I found out over the weekend that he is back at it again. I tried talking with him but he didn't want to listen. I told him I am done with it and if he decides to straighten up to give me a call.


    I hate to throw away a 20 year friendship but sometimes you have to grow up and move on.
    20 years ago, I had a friend that almost fit the same thing,and he and I were business associates...I tried talking to him,but he said it was life to do what ever he pleased with it...I stuck by him,as best as I could under the circumstances..after several years he started coming out of his mid-life crisis....and he healed his families wounds through religion and other outgoing efforts..I brought him into my hunting club and got him interested in guns and hunting...I would like to think that I had a part in his salvation...Edge,if he is truly a friend,don't give up on him because some one else has...
  • evileye fleagalevileye fleagal Member Posts: 4,238 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by pwillie
    quote:Originally posted by edgecam
    I have been friends with a guy for over 20 years, He was the best man in my wedding and I in his. About 6 months ago he started drinking more then usual and running around on his wife. We sat down and had good talk and he seemed to straighten out. I found out over the weekend that he is back at it again. I tried talking with him but he didn't want to listen. I told him I am done with it and if he decides to straighten up to give me a call.


    I hate to throw away a 20 year friendship but sometimes you have to grow up and move on.
    20 years ago, I had a friend that almost fit the same thing,and he and I were business associates...I tried talking to him,but he said it was life to do what ever he pleased with it...I stuck by him,as best as I could under the circumstances..after several years he started coming out of his mid-life crisis....and he healed his families wounds through religion and other outgoing efforts..I brought him into my hunting club and got him interested in guns and hunting...I would like to think that I had a part in his salvation...Edge,if he is truly a friend,don't give up on him because some one else has...
    amen , needs you now more then ever. but there is olny so much you can do, short of huckllbuckin him to a tree for a week or so
  • edgecamedgecam Member Posts: 3,280
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by evileye fleagal
    quote:Originally posted by pwillie
    quote:Originally posted by edgecam
    I have been friends with a guy for over 20 years, He was the best man in my wedding and I in his. About 6 months ago he started drinking more then usual and running around on his wife. We sat down and had good talk and he seemed to straighten out. I found out over the weekend that he is back at it again. I tried talking with him but he didn't want to listen. I told him I am done with it and if he decides to straighten up to give me a call.


    I hate to throw away a 20 year friendship but sometimes you have to grow up and move on.
    20 years ago, I had a friend that almost fit the same thing,and he and I were business associates...I tried talking to him,but he said it was life to do what ever he pleased with it...I stuck by him,as best as I could under the circumstances..after several years he started coming out of his mid-life crisis....and he healed his families wounds through religion and other outgoing efforts..I brought him into my hunting club and got him interested in guns and hunting...I would like to think that I had a part in his salvation...Edge,if he is truly a friend,don't give up on him because some one else has...
    amen , needs you now more then ever. but there is olny so much you can do, short of huckllbuckin him to a tree for a week or so



    I'm just taking a break from the whole thing. If he calls great, If not we might just need a guys weekend of Ice fishing this winter to get some things worked out.
  • KEVD18KEVD18 Member Posts: 15,037
    edited November -1
    if he's not harming you personally, then you're abandoning him when he likely needs you most. based on your post, this has only been going on for 6 months. seems awful quick to write someone off who you've known for 20 years and isnt directly harming you.

    you know the specifics better than us by a long shot, so if that what you have to do then nobody can argue with you...
  • pwilliepwillie Member Posts: 20,253 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by edgecam
    quote:Originally posted by evileye fleagal
    quote:Originally posted by pwillie
    quote:Originally posted by edgecam
    I have been friends with a guy for over 20 years, He was the best man in my wedding and I in his. About 6 months ago he started drinking more then usual and running around on his wife. We sat down and had good talk and he seemed to straighten out. I found out over the weekend that he is back at it again. I tried talking with him but he didn't want to listen. I told him I am done with it and if he decides to straighten up to give me a call.


    I hate to throw away a 20 year friendship but sometimes you have to grow up and move on.
    20 years ago, I had a friend that almost fit the same thing,and he and I were business associates...I tried talking to him,but he said it was life to do what ever he pleased with it...I stuck by him,as best as I could under the circumstances..after several years he started coming out of his mid-life crisis....and he healed his families wounds through religion and other outgoing efforts..I brought him into my hunting club and got him interested in guns and hunting...I would like to think that I had a part in his salvation...Edge,if he is truly a friend,don't give up on him because some one else has...
    amen , needs you now more then ever. but there is olny so much you can do, short of huckllbuckin him to a tree for a week or so



    I'm just taking a break from the whole thing. If he calls great, If not we might just need a guys weekend of Ice fishing this winter to get some things worked out.
    You sound like your disappointed in him more than anything else...we all go through mid-life crisis,some take it more seriously than others....He ain't heavy...he's your brother....
  • roswellnativeroswellnative Member Posts: 10,195 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sometimes somebody needs to lose everything (possibly even your friendship included) to hit rock bottom.
    Although always described as a cowboy, Roswellnative generally acts as a righter of wrongs or bodyguard of some sort, where he excels thanks to his resourcefulness and incredible gun prowesses.
  • txlawdogtxlawdog Member Posts: 10,039 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had to do that as well, I just could not be around one of my life long friends any more. Sad...
  • nemesisenforcernemesisenforcer Member Posts: 10,513 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by KEVD18
    if he's not harming you personally, then you're abandoning him when he likely needs you most. based on your post, this has only been going on for 6 months. seems awful quick to write someone off who you've known for 20 years and isnt directly harming you.

    you know the specifics better than us by a long shot, so if that what you have to do then nobody can argue with you...


    Pretty much sums up my thoughts.
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by edgecam
    I have been friends with a guy for over 20 years, He was the best man in my wedding and I in his. About 6 months ago he started drinking more then usual and running around on his wife. We sat down and had good talk and he seemed to straighten out. I found out over the weekend that he is back at it again. I tried talking with him but he didn't want to listen. I told him I am done with it and if he decides to straighten up to give me a call.


    I hate to throw away a 20 year friendship but sometimes you have to grow up and move on.


    Just have to add in The freind who I Posted RIP on Sept 11th. I had known since 1984. But he really got into his drinking, even used me to drive him when he was drunk. I had quit drinking so this started to get ot me.

    Everyone who knew him tried to get him to at least slow down. It did no good. I'm sure that was the reason he just slumped over while driving his body gave out. Even his wife had left.

    So if there is a chance try to help.
  • retroxler58retroxler58 Member Posts: 32,693 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by nemesisenforcer
    quote:Originally posted by KEVD18
    if he's not harming you personally, then you're abandoning him when he likely needs you most. based on your post, this has only been going on for 6 months. seems awful quick to write someone off who you've known for 20 years and isnt directly harming you.

    you know the specifics better than us by a long shot, so if that what you have to do then nobody can argue with you...


    Pretty much sums up my thoughts.
    Agreed here... Sometimes Kev has his good days. [;)]
  • yoshmysteryoshmyster Member Posts: 22,065 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Been there done that. Let's see it's been 5 years since I let them do their thing.
  • shilowarshilowar Member Posts: 38,811 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by roswellnative
    Sometimes somebody needs to lose everything (possibly even your friendship included) to hit rock bottom.


    Yep, sometimes you have to sit back and watch the implosion. I applaud you edge for maintaining a standard, and holding him accountable. You're not throwing anything away, he's the one that is choosing to live his life in an unacceptable manner (unacceptable to you). People develop friendships for many reasons, often times because they have the same morals and are like minded. His have changed, so its time to move on. IMO as a friend it is not your role to blindly tolerate and support behaviors that you find repugnant. So as you did, it is better to say your peace and extricate yourself from a situation that obviously has you compromised. Sounds like you left the door open if he comes back into a more acceptable lifestyle.

    It's not his obligation to live his life according to your rules, as it's not your obligation to tolerate the way he is choosing to live his life.
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    shilowar...well said....
  • Leeroy JenkinsLeeroy Jenkins Member Posts: 2,294 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by spasmcreek
    shilowar...well said....


    I'll second that!
  • Sav99Sav99 Member Posts: 16,037 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Your friend's actions are most likely symptoms of an underlying problem. Maybe you can help him discover what exactly is causing him to act this way.
  • HandLoadHandLoad Member Posts: 15,998
    edited November -1
    A saying I ran across many years ago, I don't remember where: A Friend accepts you with all your Faults, but still, Gently, encourages you to grow.

    I try to be like that - most times I can.
  • KEVD18KEVD18 Member Posts: 15,037
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by retroxler58
    quote:Originally posted by nemesisenforcer
    quote:Originally posted by KEVD18
    if he's not harming you personally, then you're abandoning him when he likely needs you most. based on your post, this has only been going on for 6 months. seems awful quick to write someone off who you've known for 20 years and isnt directly harming you.

    you know the specifics better than us by a long shot, so if that what you have to do then nobody can argue with you...


    Pretty much sums up my thoughts.
    Agreed here... Sometimes Kev has his good days. [;)]



    even a blind squirrel finds a nut from time to time...
  • edgecamedgecam Member Posts: 3,280
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by shilowar
    quote:Originally posted by roswellnative
    Sometimes somebody needs to lose everything (possibly even your friendship included) to hit rock bottom.


    Yep, sometimes you have to sit back and watch the implosion. I applaud you edge for maintaining a standard, and holding him accountable. You're not throwing anything away, he's the one that is choosing to live his life in an unacceptable manner (unacceptable to you). People develop friendships for many reasons, often times because they have the same morals and are like minded. His have changed, so its time to move on. IMO as a friend it is not your role to blindly tolerate and support behaviors that you find repugnant. So as you did, it is better to say your peace and extricate yourself from a situation that obviously has you compromised. Sounds like you left the door open if he comes back into a more acceptable lifestyle.

    It's not his obligation to live his life according to your rules, as it's not your obligation to tolerate the way he is choosing to live his life.




    His morals haven't changed. He is still doing all the dumb crap we used do back when we were in high school and a few years after. I have changed, I got married had kids and have a good job. maybe he is having a hard time with it. I have talked to him before and told my family comes first but if he needs anything I will be there for him. I am not interested in going out and getting drunk anymore, I have not had a drink in 5 years. I'm more then happy to hang out but our priorities are just different now.
  • COLTCOLT Member Posts: 12,637 ******
    edited November -1
    ...It may bite but, sometimes there are people that you just cant afford to know any longer, in more ways than one...at least you left him with the ball...[;)]
  • guntech59guntech59 Member Posts: 23,188 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dcon12
    Perhaps his wife is the reason he is drinking more than usual. Don


    That never happens.
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