As I was walking into the grocery store this evening, I noticed a ladies wallet in the parking lot. It had a clear pocket on the outside that had a young woman's driver's license in it. I took it into the store and asked the person behind the service desk to write down her name and my telephone number, in case the woman should call to see if someone had turned it in. I also had him verify the contents and write that down as well.
I picked up what I needed and then left the store to go in search of the young woman who lost her wallet. As it happens, I was familiar with her neighborhood, so my thought was to take it to her (hoping the address on her license was correct). She only lived about five minutes from the store. I pulled into her driveway and the garage door was up and there was a car running, with its lights on.
I turned off my truck and got out and walked up to her window. She opened the door and got out and I asked if she was Racheal. She said yes, did you find my wallet? I handed it to her and such a look of relief passed across her face, that I had to smile. She thanked me and asked where I'd found it. She said she wasn't sure if maybe she'd left it at the check-out or dropped it in the parking lot. I told her in the parking lot, just in front of the sore. She hugged me and thanked me and asked if there was anything she could do for me. I told her no, that I was familiar with the neighborhood and it was no convenience at all to bring it. She asked if I was sure and I said yes. She offered me money for returning her wallet and I assured her again, that it was not a big deal. She said, please wait here, so I awkwardly waited as she went into her house and returned a few moments later. She was carrying some flowers she'd purchased at the same grocery store she'd left her wallet at. She handed me some lovely tulips and asked that I please accept them. She asked my name (which I gave) and she said that I was a very kind person and she hoped our paths crossed again someday.
I admit that I was grinning like a mad woman when I left, for two reasons.
One, I love flowers. Two, it's seldom that you can offer someone something so small, but that means so much to them. I've lost wallets before and it's a huge undertaking to have all of your documents replaced, credit cards cancelled, etc. It's actually why I didn't simply turn it in at the store and go on about my business. I didn't know if the person who lost it would notice it soon or remember where they may have lost it. So, turning it in wasn't a guarantee they'd actually ever get it back. So, I took it to her instead.
I'm glad I did. For going out of my way five minutes, I received some lovely flowers, a warm hug, the appreciation of a stranger and was able to help someone in the process.
A win/win for me this evening.
