Find a purse, lose a purse: my strange karma
In the last three years, I have lost my purse about four times and every single time it has been returned to me by some anonymous honest, good person. In every case, the money was untouched. Now, keep in mind, I live in NJ.
It's my strange fortune that I find people's lost purses or wallets, but for whatever reason, have been unable to master the art of the anonymous return, much to my chagrin. This has been a most unsatisfactory endeavor. Consider my most recent experience, which happened two days ago and for which I received a "pay it forward" today.
I was taking a cart out of line at the grocery store (outside), when I looked down to see a woman's purse at the bottom of the cart. The purse was open, and what's even more interesting is that the person had a coin purse inside and hadn't closed it. There were lots of dollars stuffed in there. At least $50, from what a quick glance could tell.
I started to head to the store's customer service department to give it to them, but then I thought, I'll bet the owner is still in the parking lot. I looked around and sure enough, there's a dufus totally engaged on her cell phone in her car. She's smacking gum and completely involved with gum cracking and her phone call. Trying to get her attention, I held the bag up so she could see it.
What does she do? She nods, and gestures me to her car, barely even looking at me. What--you can't even get off the damn phone to recover your purse?! When I gave it back, she she nodded at me at went back to her gum smacking and phone. I didn't even get a thank you.
OK, so today I was at another grocery store and I left my small coin purse in the cart. I didn't realize this until I arrived at my next destination, so I got back in my car and returned to the grocery store. I asked the girl at customer service if anyone had returned it. She said no. I left, disappointed, and thought of the glum afternoon I'd be spending at Motor Vehicles, trying to get a new license.
I was only a short distance from the store when it occurred to me to go back and check the trash cans. Sometimes people will take the cash and toss the purse, leaving the documents in them. I returned and checked the trash cans. No luck. I also went back to the customer service desk, where a new person was on duty. I asked about the purse and the lady smiled and said it had just been given to her only a few moments before. How lucky is that!? I'm so glad I went back.
I couldn't thank the person because they were already out of the store.
But if getting my own purse back is my thanks, I'll take it! 
So there, gum smacker, the universe has a little class, even if you don't.
Cher
= new reply since forum marked as read
just rewards ... wonder how gum smacker's day is going.
When we lived in Nebraska we had an old (1924) 3 story house. Cleaning out the gutters in the fall/spring was a bear, so
we would hire guys to do it.
One year one of the guys returned the day after they'd been there to do the cleaning to ask if we'd found a wallet.
Nope, sorry. He was beside himself. He'd just been paid and had his rent money in the wallet. He'd been back
to every one of the jobs asking, walking around the houses, looking. No luck.
The next morning I looked out in the back fenced area around our pool, and noticed our dog, Tanya, seemed to have
something in her mouth. I went out to look, and sure enough, she'd found the wallet AND it was loaded with cash.
I called the guy to tell him. He arrived to pick up his wallet about an hour later AND he had a big box of milk bones
for Tanya! She had a great nose to find that wallet, and luckily, it was in the fenced area and not around any other
side of the house where she wouldn't have been allowed out to just wander around.
Glad you got your purse back!
Is a wonderful story. How fortunate that it fell where it did, and that Tanya picked it up while you were watching--everything fell into place.
Maybe the worker's guardian angel was helping out!
Love this story.
Cher
