This morning I received an email that leaves me speechless.

Nearly twenty years ago, my son’s friend suddenly and tragically developed lower-body paralysis that left him unable to walk. Of course, friends and family rallied around, donating time and money to help.

Since then, “C” has held down a steady job and gotten married. His wife works. His single mother continues to work and has an excellent income. This woman, someone I considered a friend in those years, pointedly dropped contact after I remarried, moved out of state, and ceased being “useful”. I haven’t heard from her in thirteen years. We are both on FaceBook and my birthday is two days before hers, so I know her lack of contact — even annual birthday wishes — is deliberate. Even when I’ve sent birthday wishes to her.

Back to this morning, when I received a group letter FundMe-type request to contribute to the cost of a new, $80,000 wheelchair-accessible van for the son, who is now nearly 40. WTF?!?

I am biting my lip and fingers to avoid sending her a blistering email in return, but am inclined to simply ignore it.

What would you do?

*”chutzpah” — roughly pronounced “hoots-pah”,ˈho͝otspə,ˈKHo͝otspə”, is a Yiddish word meaning nerve, gall, audacity, supreme self-confidence, and conspicuous boldness.