Monday, September 8, 2008

Lost...and found


I've got this gorgeous Kate Spade wallet that my brother and sister purchased as a Christmas gift for me two years back. More specifically, it's a red "Remy Jane Street" calfskin leather checkbook with contrast stitching. Well, Saturday night as Jeff and I left Burger King in St. Louis with the kids, we swapped off so I could drive and he could take a break. I propped my bag on top of the car and didn't realize that I left my wallet up there, too. I pulled out of the parking lot and cruised along for a good 15 minutes before I heard a little voice inside my head go, "Where is your wallet?" It was almost audible and I thought it was Jeff speaking (although it wasn't). I told Jeff, "Could you check my bag to see if my wallet is there?" He rummaged through it but couldn't find the wallet. My heart started to race. I was going 65 m.p.h. but screeched to a halt on the highway and pulled over to search the seats for my dear wallet. Finally, I threw my hands in the air and screamed, "I'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO FIND IT!!!"
I threw my cell phone at Jeff and he called around to find the number for the Burger King we just left...I thought, "Surely, it's gone. It was a sketchy fast-food joint...there were teenagers around...my wallet alone is worth $175...I've got credit cards, my driver's license...I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S GONE. I'M SO SCREWED!" Meanwhile, I heard Jeff on the phone go, "Thanks. We'll be right there." He turned to me and said, "They found it."
Once I pulled into the parking lot, I raced in and the manager pulled my wallet from the safe in the back. He said a little girl found my wallet in the parking lot and turned it in. I checked inside. Not a single thing was missing. I had $120 in cash, one credit card, one debit card, a book of stamps, my driver's license, a health insurance card, a Starbucks gift card...Not a thing was stolen.
Right then, my heart flooded with gratitude that there is some common decency in the world. My faith in humanity was a little restored by a little girl who has no idea how relieved and thankful I was to have my beloved wallet and money back where it belonged. I wish I could tell her how that simple act made such an impression on me. I would've given her all the cash in my wallet, I was so grateful.

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