Some things are beyond price, both because of their own intrinsic value to us and because of what they draw to us.
MICHAEL VENTURA
LETTERS AT 3AM –
A DAY’S RIDE, 2008
Some months ago I was startled by hard knocks at my door. I knew by the knock that I didn’t like whomever was knocking. Opened the door to a nervy guy in expensive duds. “The apartment manager told me that’s your car.” He pointed to my ’69 Chevy Malibu. I nodded yes and said, “Never.” “What?” “You want to buy it. I’ll never sell it.” “I’ll pay well.” “Never.” “Never say never. You may change your mind; take my card.” “I don’t need your card.” He wasn’t used to taking no for an answer from one he judged a social inferior. He held out his card. I just let him stand there like that. When he realized my no meant no, he walked off without another word. I thought: Never say never? That can’t be right. “Never” is an important word. Each of us should have some things we’ll say “never” to, and we’d best know well what they are.
(Told Danny the episode, with my concluding thought, and he said something I liked: “Never exists in this world.”)