My uncle's old Ford 5000 had a rhythmic knock that sounded like a tired man sighing, and he swore it ran better that way.

Did you try just saying it's not in the budget anymore? I had to be a broken record for a bit, just repeating the same simple "I can't right now" until it stuck.

Exactly, it's a weird social tax on everyone's time. My dentist does the same thing, booking people in overlapping slots. The buffer just becomes part of the mental math for any appointment now.

My grandpa taught me to carve a spoon handle the same way. He'd make me hold the rough wood for ten minutes straight, just feeling where it dug into my palm. We'd only start cutting after my hand remembered the shape it wanted. It sounds slow, but you end up with something that fits perfectly without any guesswork. I still use that old cherrywood spoon he helped me make.

Congratulate your friend on solving a six-year mystery with one look.