I was in Michigan this weekend visiting family and decide last minute on Saturday to pm Rafed ( someone I had never met or really communicated with before ) to see if he was around so I could pass by and meet him and see his collection .
He immediately responded and said to come on by the next day . I wanted him to also meet my uncle who lives about a mile away and has been growing figs in ground in Michigan for more than 20 years , but doesn't know about the different varieties and which ones are worth while. 
My uncle and I were greeted and treated like old friends . I could tell that Rafed was in discomfort due to a hole in his leg which could fit a celeste fig. However he took us for a tour of his wonderful collection of fig trees with many very rare varieties . We were invited inside by his family and treated to coffee and homemade deserts.
Rafed insisted on giving us a few trees , which was great because my uncle can now grow some great varieties like Negretta , Mavra sika , and strawberry Verte . He was also wiling to give me cuttings from any tree I wanted . In the end I think he was a bit disappointed that I walked away with just a box of plant tags .
After leaving my uncle said to me , he couldn't believe I had never met Rafed before and that this guy would give you the shirt off his back. I agree .
Rafed you are a class act. 

Thanks again ... John

Good people, them figgers! :-)

great story - like!
get well soon rafed!

Wonderful story.  And some great figs found a new home, and will bring pleasure to the new growers, for years to come.  A gift that keeps on giving.  Say it with figs.

Thanks, Rafed

Frank

I loved this story!  Wow!
Suzi

John,

I am  happy you had the chance to come by and visit. It's great to meet fig friends in person. Next time I hope you will stay a bit longer. I was happy to give your uncle these figs. The happiness he will get out of them will last a lifetime.

I found out the pedigree on the Negretta and I am confident it is the real deal. I am not upset at all I gave it away. The Mavra Sika was one of the few cuttings I got recently from winning them on ebay. They were from a great source. As you were already aware that I had a couple more laying around and that they were promised to a couple close friends, I gave the uncle my one and only Mavra Sika to him. I saw the look of a little kid in him when I did that. I can always get more later. Right now, putting a smile on the old mans face and filling his heart with joy was more important.

Hope we can meet again soon my friend and you are always welcome.

You're a good guy Rafed, wish you were in my neighborhood. 

Way to go Rafed !

Likewise Barry and Martin.

Barry, I can't wait till the one fig gets bigger so I can put a smile on your face.
Don't worry Martin, it is a white fig. So don't feel leftout.

I'll second everything good said about Rafed. He gave me my first cuttings ever and the giving has never stopped. Rafed you're one super friend.
"gene"

I love these stories!  Rafed you did good.  It's wonderful to make people happy.

Rafed

I'm in Newport.  I would gladly make the trip to see you and your collection.  If you'redown here stop in and see me.  

Darn good form Rafed! Love reading posts like these, it clearly re-affirms that we are all truly more alike than dis-alike.

Yes, Rafed is definitely a good and generous guy!

Awwwwww! I want to meet fig pals too! Too bad I'm way down in Idaho! Diesler.. Probably lives close by me. Oregon right? 

That Dieseler lives south of Chicago.

"Not even close Jenn", dang it. 

I was inspired by the story. Thank you for sharing :-)

love people like Rafed.
I visited the fig grower over here in Atlanta that i never meet before and he is from Afghanistan and the welcome was similar as the Rafed welcome you Jonh, i was planing to stay for about half an hour but i stay over 2 hours. Stories like this make me home sick.
This story sounds like back home, people who don`t know you offering you to stay a day longer and they want you to sleep in their home.

Thank you Rafed for your generosity. Wish more people are like you.

Thank you John for sharing this wonderful story with as.

I love this kind of story!

John, thank you for sharing this with us!  It reaffirms what I know to be true - people are kind and generous, there is more joy in giving then receiving

Rafed, you are a class act.  Here it is about a month (or more already?) after you ordeal in the hospital, and you shared your home and figs with people you never met face to face but have a common love of figs. 

Thanks to everyone.

Just one thing I want to share with everyone is that; my collection had to start somewhere too.
Yes, I paid for some but many of them came from generous and giving people too. So it did not start with me but I carry it on.
I can't promise everyone everything, I'll end up running out. LOL
But I will help if I can.

ALL:

I wanted to take some time here to thank Rafed for spending some time with me a few days ago.   He is indeed a class act.   What was really cool was that I haven't tasted too many light colored figs in my short time growing figs.   I tasted so many the other night that I didn't need dinner and funny thing is I can't even remember what they were.   He went from one plant to another saying "try this" .......

Super nice guy!  It was great to spend some quality time with another fig lover.   Everyone should make time to do this with someone in your area.  There is so much to learn and see. Definately would like to go back some time soon.

Like I said before Rafed, you are welcome at my place any time! 

Thanks

Dan