There are probably very few of us, if any at all, who have never misplaced an object of significant monetary or sentimental value. It's happened before, hasn't it? Upon realizing that item is gone, panic ensues! We run around, opening drawers, checking coat pockets, bags and the trash can two or three times over, just to make sure we didn't overlook it. If luck is on our side, it might still be sitting untouched on the restaurant table where we got distracted by stories and smiles with friends. It could be underneath a seat in the car or hidden among toys and color crayons. Yet, all too often inanimate objects win the never-ending game of hide and seek.
I have been a careless owner of many things that never found their way home. I've lost a couple iPods abroad. My favorite Star Wars tee-shirt went missing in a hostel, and misplaced faith in others resulted in the disappearance of a notebook with content that cannot be replicated. The list of misplaced belongings goes on, and the worldly effects recovered by others sadly fall under the verbal clause "finders keepers" and you know the rest... (losers weepers)
Very seldom do the circumstances occur in the opposite fashion. When they do, it becomes a moment of excitement; it feels like a slight victory. As if somehow karma gifted you with the possession of another. The wide smile across your face says it all, "Is this really as wonderful as it seems!" and you continue to inspect the item; turning it over, opening and closing it. Does the object in your hands present you with the moral dilemma: keep it, leave it, or find the owner?
A little over a week ago I was on my way to my typical coffee spot when I cruised past something on the road. Circling back around I picked up a cell phone that had been danced upon by the rubber soles of an asphalt warrior. There was no one around to lay claim to it. With a nearly dead battery and a cracked screen I questioned whether I should leave it or try to revive it. I decided I'd bring it with me and found that my Kindle charger was compatible with the phone. I plugged it in and several minutes later the tiny device sputtered back to life; like someone revived by a defibrillator, taking a breath after coming inches from death. Messages began popping up one after another without end. I could finally attempt to locate the owner. 'Hey sis, call me,' one said. I figured that was a safe bet and placed the call. Two, three, four rings later and a kind female voice picks up.
"Hello, Summer," she says.
Before continued, I interjected, "Hi, my name is Janelle. I found this phone in the road last night and I'm just trying to locate the owner. When I turned the phone on, I saw you called her sister. So I thought to give this a try."
"Oh my, you are so sweet. This is her sister-in-law. She has the worst luck with phones. She must have dropped it last night when she was at her auntie's house. I'll try to get a hold of her," she replied.
"Perfect," I said, "and if she wants to meet up have her call this number and I'll keep it with me. Great talking to you!"
"You too! Thank you!" and she hung up.
A couple hours later the phone rang, I answered, "Hello this is Janelle."
"Hi, this is Summer! My sister said you found my phone!"
"I did! I have it with me at the Denver Bicycle Cafe on 17th and Lafayette. I can meet you somewhere, but I'm on my bike," I said.
"Thank you so much," she exclaimed. "I'd love to come get it from you. I can be there in an hour if you plan on staying a while. I can't believe you're doing this! I'm really sorry I don't have any money to give you as a reward."
"Oh, please! Don't even worry about it. I don't want anything, I'm just glad I can help. I'll be here for quite a while. See you when you get here!" I said.
We exchanged descriptions of ourselves and hung up.
As promised, Summer arrived an hour later wearing an unmistakable expression of gratitude and excitement on her face. We greeted one another with a handshake and I told her how I'd come across her phone. I returned it to her, with a cracked screen and partially charged battery.
"Poor phone, I can't hardly keep track of these things! I have something for you too," she said. With an outstretched arm she handed me a thank you card.
I received the card and said, "I don't know if you're interested, but I actually have an extra phone I'm not using. If you want it, it's yours."
"You're serious?" she asked.
"Of course! I only need one phone! Just give me a call if you want to pick it up sometime this week."
I smiled, wished her luck and we said our farewells. When she left, I had a unique feeling overcome me. A connection made with a simple stranger left me in awe that two people who'd never met could both feel joy from such an ordinary occurrence.
When I returned to my chair inside, I opened the card and read this message:
Janelle,
Thank you for your simple act of kindness! It may not mean anything to you, but it means the world to me that there are people in the world that genuinely care for mankind. I know all in all, a cell phone is immaterial and can be replaced. However, It relieves me to know someone took the time and made an attempt to find the owner!
Thank you,
Summer
The message inside of the card is worth more than any reward I could ever receive from her.
Days later, I received a call from Summer... she wasn't inquiring about the phone I offered, but instead wondering if I would accept a lunch date on her as thanks for my deed. I am still in awe that something this simple could allow a deep acquaintance or friendship to germinate.
I find that in life, there are events or tasks that are not necessarily convenient, but in the time it takes to go out of our way to accomplish whatever we set out to do, we are rewarded by the experiences we choose to assume responsibility over.
City life is wonderful!
(If you're looking for a feel good song after a feel good story: listen to Wallet by Regina Spektor)
