[bbeery]

I just finished a cane in diamond willow for a friend who had an accident and at present is in a wheel chair. Several woodspirits carved in the shaft. Thought when he healed, maybe a cane would help him get around. Probably had 40 hours in the cane. I carved an exceptionally fancy handle with a tailored right handed grip.
Right after I gave it to him he informed me it was his left foot that was hurt, not his right. Dumb!! No fore thought. Not much appreciation either. Not that I was looking for any.

[susieq]

Ouwch! The mistake was an honest one but the reception for such a fine gift was unforgivable..... Find a right handed friend who will appreciate your wonderful work and realize that anybody who would treat your gift so badly, is perhaps not worthy to be your friend....... If someone had gone to all that trouble for me, I would be worrying myself over how not to hurt their feelings by letting them know it was wrong handled....maybe I wouldn't even say anything. I would probably try to use it the way it is and be grateful as heck that someone liked me enough to do something like that for me. But then if this friend wasn't a carver, it is possible that they have NO IDEA how much work went into it.....not likely, but possible.

[Jim OH]

bberry,
Couldn't ya accidentally step on his right foot ? ;O).
Jim OH

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

yep, the key word there , was "friend" might reconsider that one! With friends like that, who needs enemies!

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Jim you dirty dawg! I was gonna write "kick him in the other leg and raise the price!" but thought I would just get in trouble again! I thought sure Hi-Ho would step in but you even beat him to it.

[Ashbys]

bberry,

A very thoughtful gift. Did he give you cane back? If he did perhaps you can change the handle. If he kept he is telling you he really likes it.

Sounds to me like he is having issues about the accident, and resents what he is going through. People have a lot of trouble coping with injuries. I am sure he meant no ill will. But you never know what will happen with people when they go through a trauma. It may just be too soon.

[tucker1931]

Whoa, hold yer horses there. if he has an injured left foot he needs a cane for the right hasnd, so you done good. Having just come home from the hospital today after a hip replacement the doctor told me you hold the cans in the opposite hand to where the injury is. Sounds to me you accidentaley got it right.
Cliff

[AlArchie]

Or maybe it's one of those instances that goes to prove the old addage......."No good deed ever goes unpunished!"

Al;

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Now how on earth were you supposed to know which foot he put in his mouth?

[Claude]

I agree with Cliff. When I had my broken ankle (left), the doctor told me to use a single crutch or cane in my right hand. The reason for this is that it helps take some of the weight off the injured leg. The "Dumb!!" doesn't apply to you, bbeery, so don't feel bad at all.

Claude