What's Going On Here?

[LivingWaterPlease]

This maybe should be in "Family" category, not sure but maybe mods will move it if need be.

 

My brother lives all the way across the country from me and is not a great communicator as he is busy running a business. He's a great guy. I both love him and like him. His wife's family all seem to be good people but maybe not polished in manners. They are more salt-of-the-earth types, but have done well in businesses, have lovely well-maintained homes, cars, clothes, vacations, etc. is how it seems to me they've done well, etc. I mention this because obviously to do well in business one must have some sense of what social appropriate behavior is.

 

My SIL's sister, let's call her Mary, and I, though we've only met at two or three family occasions interact on FB and have a lot of the same idealogical opinions and beliefs. She posts a lot more than I and I agree with and support what she posts. She seems lovely in all ways to me.

 

Well, here's the deal as to what has happened.

 

My brother, who never calls me, called me and asked me if I could send Mary's husband, Bill, some material I developed and manufacture that is related to my career. Making and selling this material is a side line interest of mine, not my career.

 

Bill was in the car with my brother when he called and brother put him on the phone and we talked some.

 

Anyway, I got together far more materials than my brother asked for and packaged them into a large box and mailed them to Bill, with a note to him and Mary in it. I basically sent enough material for their entire family to experience the journey together.

 

It was at an inconvenient time in my life for me to get this material together but I was glad to do it as I thought it was something I could do inexpensively for me (compared to the value of materials I was sending) that would enrich their families' life.

 

All told with shipping costs, etc. it cost me under a hundred dollars but was several hundred dollars worth of stuff retail.

 

When I shipped it I was able to track it so know it was delivered.

 

I never heard from them as to whether they received it or not. Now, my brother, his wife and kids, never send thank you notes or reply when gifts are sent to even call and say thank you. I have learned this over the years.

 

Anyway, I became concerned that possibly the package was delivered damaged, or that it was stolen, or whatever. Or the delivery person put it in place where they didn't find it.

 

So after four or five months I wrote both Bill and Mary a FB message saying I was just checking in with them to see if the box arrived and was suitable to use for their family.

 

Neither Bill nor Mary replied. This was a couple of months ago.

 

So, I thought maybe they weren't connected to Face book messenger and didn't get the message.

 

So, a couple nights ago Mary and I were interacting in a thread in a congenial way per usual and I wrote, btw, just wondering if the materials I sent you arrived OK?

 

She didn't answer me and disappeared from the thread. This is the first time she's ignored a question from me and we are always congenial and even enthused with each other's posts.

 

Anyone have an idea what's going on here? I sent this material in response to a request, I didn't force it on them. Why wouldn't they at least say, "Yes, we got the material and are looking forward to using it, have been too busy so far but it's on the agenda," or something like that.

 

This is so weird to me.

 

FYI, I won't be contacting them about this again. Obviously they don't want to talk about it. But I can't imagine why these nice people wouldn't want to do me the courtesy of letting me know they got the package I spent so much time putting together. As far as the expense of shipping and materials, it's no biggie to me as it was well worth it to me to try to be helpful to someone else.

 

Anyone have an idea why they are so reluctant to let me know they received the materials/equipment?

 

An outside thought I had was that possibly they thought I was expecting payment for it, but in no way would that be so. I made it clear on the phone with Bill that this was stuff I had and could send to their family at no charge.

Edited January 24, 2018 by LivingWaterPlease

[Mr. Lucky]

Are the materials somehow controversial in nature? Political? Sexual? Religious?

 

If not, they may simply be having family/marital problems and your kind gesture got caught up in the wash. Strange that they wouldn't respond when a simple "Yes, thank you" would have sufficed.

 

Have you asked your brother about this?

 

Mr. Lucky

[d0nnivain]

Yeah very strange. Chalk it up to bad manners & let it go. You behaved graciously but not everybody does.

[LivingWaterPlease]

Thanks, Mr. Lucky and d0nnavain! I thought no one would comment so it means a lot that you two have!

 

No, the materials would be hobby-related for them, fun, entertaining, no bad words, religious or political slant, benign in every sense of the word, kid friendly. (Would be more specific but could lose anonymity on LS). But, that's a good thought, I'd even wondered, lol, and this is far-fetched, if by chance something offensive got into the box, like my undies or something! :lmao::lmao: Am sure that didn't happen, but it has really made me think.

 

Have actually given some of the same materials to a few other people and always folks are so appreciative.

 

The main reason I wanted a response initially is because, since my brother requested the stuff and I agreed to send it, I wanted to honor my brother so that he wouldn't be embarrassed by it seeming that I didn't keep my word if the package didn't arrive or was left at their front door and stolen.

Edited January 24, 2018 by LivingWaterPlease

[LivingWaterPlease]

I spoke too soon!

 

Got a very nice post on Facebook explaining all going on in their lives and kind of apology-like for the late thank you! Then a thank you.

 

Glad to have heard from her, was just too odd before her post.

Edited January 25, 2018 by LivingWaterPlease