[flamesfever]

Sometimes a handshake can symbolize a situation of trust.

It used to be that deals in the oilpatch were done with a handshake...back when a man's word was his bond. It signified a man was giving his word of honour to abide by the terms of the deal. This went on back in the 50's, before deals became much more complex and the lawyers and landmen got into the act.


An oilman would ask a friend if he wanted a piece of a well on a Friday afternoon, and if he said yes and they shook hands on it, then that was as good as any mounds of paper agreements today. Sometimes the well would come in dry over the weekend, and a cheque for the friend's share of the well was on the oilman's desk Monday morning.


Oh, how times have changed!