Don't forget Livia Soprano's line about people letting you down... it's all a big nothing... in the end you die in your own arms... and then your dog chews off your face.

But seriously...

Of course.  If you're alive and if you've had a friend, you've been disappointed in him/her.  Funny part is you've done the same to someone else and will continue to do so.  Sometimes they're small things.  You forgive and move on.  Sometimes they're big things but you take the remaining positive from that friend while never again allowing yourself to be vulnerable to their glaring flaw.  Sometimes they're so humongous you ask yourself how you could have been so naive to not have been aware.  In that case you close the book.  The end.  Lessons learned. 

Since that's all pretty vague, here's some examples.

Small things:  Friend tells you he/she'll meet you at such and thus time for lunch/movie/concert.  You arrive on time.  Friend is not there.  You wait.  Friend is still not there.  Check your messages.  Nada.  You call and go directly to voice message.  You're a little worried.  A little pissed too.  So you go by yourself.  When you get home, friend calls and says, "Oh, man, I'm so sorry.  I totally forgot.  Want to meet up tomorrow?"

Big thing:  Friend in need asks to borrow a substantial sum of money with a detailed plan of how it will be paid back.  You have the money but not enough that you won't feel the sting of handling over that sum.  You agree to help out.  Friend is so grateful showering you with flattery about what a good friend you are.  The time of the first pay-back arrives and he pays you.  By the subsequent payments, this friend is harder to get in touch with.  In fact, it gets hard to remember that before this loan, the two of you used to talk, email and hang out often.  Then one day several months later, you run into him accidentally.  He's paying his tab at a very expensive restaurant.  He's flustered and says, "Oh wow, I know I still owe you __________." Followed by a lame excuse and another promise to pay you back. 

This person, depending on much history or how much pleasure you have in their company, can still remain a friend though they will be less inclined to want to see you because you are a constant reminder of that money owed.  You may receive a nominal fizzling out partial payback before he considers it old news.  That friendship, over the long haul, can be maintained by never ever ever loaning him money.  Ever. 

 Humongous things:  This is almost always the kiss of death.  Friend and you start a business together.  Hey, you're friends!  How cool would it be to work together too!  You put in money; he puts in money.  Maybe a little less than you but he's going to do a greater share of the work.  Over time you invest time, energy and more money to get this business off the ground.  You work around the clock.  NO such thing as weekends or holidays when it's your own business.  Friend starts showing up less often.  Friend is doing less than at first.  You start getting calls asking why your partner-friend did not live up to some business obligation.  Then one day you discover that the company account has been tapped out and it was not for business expenses. Once the legal entanglements are over you never again have further interactions with this former friend.  Accidental sightings bring up the bile of past betrayals and well, it's just too painful to try to forget.  Plus, ironically, this former friend person thinks YOU are the one who screwed him over.  Never fails.

Three small examples each of which I have personally experienced.  Not just once either.  And each time I ask how I could have been so stupid.  

Soooooo, sizing it all up, I think people are endlessly entertaining.  We need them around us.  They are a wonderful variety plate.  The most endearing with whom you've shared the most laughs are hard to give up.  Love them all; trust few.  Don't allow yourself to be overly vulnerable.  But don't be overly suspicious either.

Pets?  Love 'em!  Especially the loyal dog.  But I also know that my loyal dog, Lola the Lab, would run off with Felix the postman on any given day when he seduces her with a rubbermaid container filled with assorted milk bones.  

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Pets in a landslide...people suck.

I have a miniature dachshund who I would take a bullet for.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

 I had the great honor of meeting the famous Lola last month! I knew just who she was when she came charging in the yard, too.   I called her a spunky muffin and patted her bottom!

 Love my rats, Sparkplug and Handsome.  They have a lot of personality and attitude, too (because they're mine, of course) and are there for me when it seems like no one else is.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

Dogs don't love unconditionally, their conditions are simply few and are easy to satisfy; feed me and don't beat me too often.

Regards silly things, well I'll just say I've never seen a person eat cat shit.  I'm not saying it dosen't happen I'm just saying I've never seen it and no I don't want any web site addresses.

Regards people I think it's good to remember;

"Sometimes when we are ill we are not on our best behavior. By ill I mean any of the following; Physicall ill, emotionally ill, mentally ill and or spiritually ill." - From The Collected Wisdom of the Log Lady.

I think allmost all of us are spiritually ill, many are emotinally ill and quite a few are mentally ill.  But that's just me.

"It's not so bad as long as you can keep the fear from your mind." - D. Cooper

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer." - P. Atreides

"Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe" - L. tzu

Good post, Redbear! I did think about Pink Flamingos as I read it but that was not cat shit, was it?  Also we should keep in mind that Divine did it for art.   Yes, it's true that I have seen some dogs (some who are very very close to me) gobble from the kitty litter box but that was only mostly when she was a wee pup.  

I guess when you come down to it, we shouldn't make too harsh a judgment on anyone based only on their dietary habits although it may be smart to draw the line at primates who eat their own.

Susan

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin