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NNadir

(34,710 posts)
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 09:34 AM Oct 1

My son had prepaid reservations for a B&B near Ashville next week. He's not rich; living on a stipend...

...but he said he won't be asking for a refund, because he's sure the owner will need the money.

That's my boy! His mother raised him right.

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My son had prepaid reservations for a B&B near Ashville next week. He's not rich; living on a stipend... (Original Post) NNadir Oct 1 OP
That's wonderful, such an amazing guy. 👍💙 TommieMommy Oct 1 #1
Thank you for this lovely moment. Is it dusty in here??? niyad Oct 1 #2
Same orangecrush Oct 1 #25
Mine, too ailsagirl Oct 1 #29
Tell him for all of us. Good job. Lochloosa Oct 1 #3
What a good son Clouds Passing Oct 1 #4
If you can swing it, send him the money. It will be so jimfields33 Oct 1 #5
You know what? I'm not going to do that, because it would cheapen his internal pride at making a sacrifice, and... NNadir Oct 1 #7
That's definitely fair. I definitely didn't see it that way, but that is jimfields33 Oct 1 #9
If there's a heaven, that major brownie points. Funtatlaguy Oct 1 #6
loving empathy robleb Oct 1 #8
Your son is Alliepoo Oct 1 #10
Check first. B&B might prefer to rent rooms out to electric power workers Bernardo de La Paz Oct 1 #11
I'm not involved in the transaction, and don't want to be. It's his; not mine. I'm sure he will communicate... NNadir Oct 1 #12
Why Doesn't He Call and Talk to Them NonPC Oct 1 #13
As I understood it at the time I spoke to him, it was not possible to communicate with the owner by text. NNadir Oct 1 #14
Oh, ffs. Tanuki Oct 1 #22
I think you must have meant to reply to NNadir, and not me. I can't answer your suggestions. . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Oct 1 #23
Not flaming, but your post reminded me of the rather different lyrics niyad Oct 1 #28
The B&B might not be there anymore MyMission Oct 2 #31
Wow! Thank you for that report on the devastation. I hope you will recover, and your point is well taken. I... NNadir Oct 2 #33
Dayum, that's a fine son! MLAA Oct 1 #15
Good job, Mom. Quiet Em Oct 1 #16
I'm not his Mom; I'm his Dad. However, given my many flaws, I attribute the best of my sons to my wife. n/t. NNadir Oct 1 #17
My apologies. So sorry. Good job, Dad. Quiet Em Oct 1 #18
No apology necessary. Thanks for your comment. NNadir Oct 1 #20
Sounds like you and your wife raised a very good man. Elessar Zappa Oct 1 #19
Good for him!! His parents did a great job, LoisB Oct 1 #21
character-defining moment Skittles Oct 1 #24
The owner is likely some corporation liberal N proud Oct 1 #26
Not in this case. My son was in direct contact with the owner before the storm. NNadir Oct 1 #27
Good for hom liberal N proud Oct 2 #32
If this is the same son that wants to help African countries.... EarnestPutz Oct 2 #30

NNadir

(34,710 posts)
7. You know what? I'm not going to do that, because it would cheapen his internal pride at making a sacrifice, and...
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 10:10 AM
Oct 1

...in a way, make it mine, not his.

I want him to own his decency; I don't want to own it. It's not mine.

I'm not being cheap. We've supported him financially, as well he knows, which is why he's in graduate school at all. But again, I want him, not me, to own this.

jimfields33

(19,134 posts)
9. That's definitely fair. I definitely didn't see it that way, but that is
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 10:12 AM
Oct 1

an awesome way to see it. You definitely did a great job raising him.

Bernardo de La Paz

(51,009 posts)
11. Check first. B&B might prefer to rent rooms out to electric power workers
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 10:22 AM
Oct 1

... for money now.

They would probably love to transfer the reservation to a future date when there would be much less tourist traffic in that devastated area, ... when visitors would also support the wider community with meal purchases, and other purchases, not just a sum of money to the B&B

Certainly your son has the right instinct, but assumptions may turn out to be different from the B&B's wishes.

NNadir

(34,710 posts)
12. I'm not involved in the transaction, and don't want to be. It's his; not mine. I'm sure he will communicate...
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 10:26 AM
Oct 1

...with the owner about his intentions and get her response.

NonPC

(405 posts)
13. Why Doesn't He Call and Talk to Them
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 10:43 AM
Oct 1

Just making wild assumptions about a situation does not make him an angel. The B&B -- if open -- might be over-run with requests for reservations. Have him make intelligent decisions when donating money. There are lots of good charities that need help. Stupidly giving money away to people who may not need it does not qualify.

And yes, I donate a lot of money to charitable organizations and scholarships each year. But I try to be intelligent about it.

Go ahead and flame me. But think logically about this first.

NNadir

(34,710 posts)
14. As I understood it at the time I spoke to him, it was not possible to communicate with the owner by text.
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 10:49 AM
Oct 1

During Hurricane Sandy, I had friends call me with offers to help. I thanked them, but kept the conversation short, because there was limited power on the phone battery and didn't know how or when I'd be able to charge it.

I don't think my son is being unintelligent or stupid. I see it as being a human to human interaction, of which I am proud. You are free to disagree.

niyad

(120,272 posts)
28. Not flaming, but your post reminded me of the rather different lyrics
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 09:37 PM
Oct 1

we used to sing to "Pretty Baby".

MyMission

(2,000 posts)
31. The B&B might not be there anymore
Wed Oct 2, 2024, 03:39 AM
Oct 2

It might have been destroyed by the floods and winds.
Possibly split apart, or moved off it's foundation by the water.
Or filled with water and muddy residue
Or crushed by a fallen tree,
or crushed or moved by other objects,
Like cars, logs, electric poles, storage sheds
Swept up in the flash flood,
Hitting people, cars, buildings.
And if it was on a hill or slope, or near a river
it might have been buried in a mudslide,
Or been part of a landslide when the building slides,
Or slid down the slope, ended up in the actual river and sinking.

I'm just south of Asheville. My Internet came back Sunday but goes out often.
All of that has happened in Asheville and across this mountainous region with rivers and streams.
It's important to understand the scope of this disaster. I'm here in the middle of it!

The electric power workers and other volunteers don't usually rent rooms in a disaster area, rooms are scarce, no power, no water. They show up. They have enclaves, sometimes trailers, where they can rest in between working non stop! (After working as hard as these guys do they can sleep anywhere!) I've seen that here, and others mention seeing some groups of workers camped for the night and duration in this parking lot or that facility lot!

One more thing about disappearing buildings...
My mom's condo complex has a stream in the back, and a bridge over it to other units.
After the storm we discovered a shed had deposited itself behind the condo nearest the stream and the bridge (not near mom's condo). It had disappeared from someone's backyard near the creek upstream. Water apparently swept the shed down the flooded raging stream flowing over the bridge, took out the guard rails, and went a bit left, stopping just before it hit the building. It's in pretty good shape. I wonder how far it traveled, if it will be reunited with its owner, what's inside, if there's anything useful to the owner and the community. Chainsaws, generators, shovels, are a few items I've heard were carried away by flood waters, or drowned in sheds and garages.

As far the OP, I would say good for your son! When there's better communication, he could contact the B& B to just ask how everyone is, tell them he's not looking for a refund, and if it is planning to reopen he could say he looks forward to staying with them next fall, or whenever.
I bet they'd offer him a voucher!

NNadir

(34,710 posts)
33. Wow! Thank you for that report on the devastation. I hope you will recover, and your point is well taken. I...
Wed Oct 2, 2024, 06:35 PM
Oct 2

...will share your comments with my son when I speak with him again, and offer him your excellent advice.

May you, and your family, recover well and in the future feel restored.

I wish you all the best.

NNadir

(34,710 posts)
17. I'm not his Mom; I'm his Dad. However, given my many flaws, I attribute the best of my sons to my wife. n/t.
Tue Oct 1, 2024, 11:44 AM
Oct 1

EarnestPutz

(2,612 posts)
30. If this is the same son that wants to help African countries....
Wed Oct 2, 2024, 02:39 AM
Oct 2

....develop Nuclear Power stations, I'd say we shouldn't be suprised.

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