Thursday, March 20, 2008

Post Office Man

Dear Man Who Came Or Left The Post Office Moments After I Arrived,

I am a scatter brain of sorts. I can keep it together where it matters. So says my husband. Sometimes I falter just a teensy bit with the things that matter, and sometimes I make huge blunders. Like dropping my debit card in the parking lot. I'm 32 years old. I should know that my debit card belongs in a wallet and not freely floating around my entirely unreliable jacket pocket. Next to my driver's license.

I am who I am though, and some things I kind of have to learn the hard way.

Only you kind sir, saved me from having to learn this lesson in a miserably hard way.

Thank you.

When I got to the counter to pay for my postage, I wasn't even remotely concerned when I reached in my pocket and there was no debit card. I've been treating it so carelessly for the last couple of months, I'm used to it's absence when I need it. But I always find it. I said to the postal worker, "Oh, I think I left my debit card in my car, I'm just going to go run and get it."

I glanced at her face to see if there was an approval or if she was going to cancel my order and have me start over when I got back. instead she said, "What's your name?"

"Uhhhhh, Nobody."

"Your card is right here, a man just brought it in, he found it in the parking lot."

I immediately got a lump in my throat and 57 different scenarios of 57 different ways dropping my debit card could have gone. Tears sprang into my eyes with gratitude for your kindness, your honesty. Both sometimes feel so rare these days. When I am the recipient of such anonymous goodness, I always feel so overwhelmed.

We just got paid today. You could have gone to see Horton Hears a Who like, over a hundred times. You could have gotten popcorn too. I doubt it would have been enough for Milk Duds though. Those things are pricey!

I have no idea who you are. I wouldn't know you on the street. I can't call you and tell you how grateful I am that you found my debit card and not someone else. I can't tell you how grateful I am that I don't have to tell my husband I've been careless with the money he works so hard to earn. I'm so grateful. Thank you.

Now Using My Wallet Again,
Nobody in Iowa

21 comments:

the lizness said...

WHEW. that could have been very close.

a said...

I am the same way with my debit card. I wish they could just put that magnetic barcode in your finger or something. I just recently found my debit card after misplacing it like a month ago. oops! Guess where it was? IN MY HUSBAND'S wallet!

Alicia said...

There are some nice folks in Iowa.

Millie said...

That is really awesome. I'm glad you posted about it - I tend to forget great things like this when they happen to me. And we all get to read about it. :)

Deena said...

Hooray for good honest people!

Sarah Tilley said...

the same thing happened to me once, except it was my paycheck and my dear hubby was taking it to the bank and left it in his backpack with it half unzipped and it fell out somewhere when he went to school. luckily some kind soul found it and returned it to him.

juli said...

Great story to share. Thanks!
It restores faith in humankind!

S said...

Ya know Big J can read? I knew I got my habit from someone!!! I asked my dear bread maker if he had seen my card? He said " I would like to never hear you ask me that again!" aaaah what? this is the very first time evoh! I believe more people are nice than naughty still!

Adolescent Family said...

you are one LUCKY lady! I can just see what this post might have been, had that nice man not been there. Although, you probably weren't at our ghetto post office...you were up town, right? Your chances are a little better up there! ;)

Get a wallet, would ya?! ;)

Super Happy Girl said...

Whew.
At least it wasn't the keys on top of your car ALL NIGHT long.

Super Happy Girl said...

I KEEEED!!!

I do it becuase I love you!
:D

What a good and honest man. High five to you sir.

Anonymous said...

when i started reading your post, i thought it was going a different way . . . whew. last year i picked up our brand new laser printer at the post office (military po box). i carefully set it on the curb, loaded kids, and drove away without it. i (very) soon realized what i had done and raced back for it . . . to no avail. anyway, i'm glad your story did not end that way.

several years ago chase and my wallets were stolen out of our car at his sister's apt in mesa. there was a little use on our cards, but the companies were pretty sweet about not hanging us out to dry. anyway, about 2 years later, chase's grandpa found the wallets on the roof of his house (the address on the driver's license) . . . totally baked. i guess the crook just wanted the $, but felt bad enough about keeping all our puch cards and movie rental stuff, that he/she drove over to grandpa's to return them.

Mamarazzi said...

the kindness of others...a truly beautiful thing.

Tori :) said...

How wonderful! It's so good to hear there is still good people in the world!

Code Yellow Mom said...

Suhweet. And you wrote about it so well...Bless that man's heart.

I do have to admit that I was picturing those commercials where the Hell's Angels biker has the voice of a pretty redhead and is talking about getting a new tattoo the size of his entire body, buying unlimited rounds of Jack Daniels for everyone in a roadside bar, and now owning entirely new leather riding pants thanks to the redhead's card. Whew. Glad that didn't come true.

Code Yellow Mom said...

P.S. NCS beat me to the keys comment.

Also, S - "I would like to never hear you say that again" is priceless!

Michelle said...

It's nice to know that nice, honest people still exist!

Cindy said...

That sounds just like me. I am ALWAYS misplacing both my license and debit card. Ben will always get concerned and I just tell him that it will turn up. I need to stick them back in my wallet, but they ususally end up in a jean pocket.

It is good to know that there are good, honest people out there. You got lucky!! I am too, so far the cards have always turned up!

Sketchy said...

Isn't it nice to know there is still a lot of goodness in the world? Yes there some of the other too, but lots of good.

kellyo75 said...

You're right. These acts of kindness are very rare these days. Yay! And, Milk DUDS ARE expensive. Glad you got your debit card back. You are lucky!

Jenny P. said...

Do you know what!?! I did the very same thing. Dropped my debit card at the post office. And someone picked it up and took it to my bank. The bank called me and left me a message telling me they had my lost debit card... I still hadn't realized I didn't have it, because I too, often keep it in random places like my back pocket, or my jewelry box, or my center console. Yay for friendly, nice people who turn in lost things.

Just checking in. Still won't have internet for another few days, but since I'm at my Moms, I came to read you first.