Often it doesn't take much, especially this time of year, to warm the heart and make a person think that the world is not that bad a place afterall. Such a thing happened to me today.
Over three years ago I had a business trip to Minneapolis in the dead of winter. I stayed at the Radisson there and in the business suite, where I hung out in the mornings before heading to the office on the skyway, I met a concierge whom I liked and we hit it off. At the time I was reading a Christopher Moore novel. (Love me some Christopher Moore) and she enquired about it and I gave her some details. A couple of days later, I saw her again and had finished the novel and wanted to share it with her. It was a hard-back book so I thought I should probably indicate that I would like to have it returned, and did so by putting my name and address on the inside cover. Well, my husband said that I was silly for "loaning" it to her and that I would never see it again. After several months went by, I conceded that he was likely right and I would have to buy a replacement for the book so that I would not have a hole in my Christopher Moore collection.
Well, today, out of the blue, I got a package in the mail from Minneapolis. Not remembering having ordered anything from Minneapolis, I was puzzled, but it was clearly addressed to me so I opened it. And there, lo and behold, was my Christopher Moore novel. There was a nice postcard inside saying that she had run across the book and felt she had better return it. Of course, the address I gave was my business address here and she also added that she hoped I was still employed here. (Thankfully, and for many more reasons than the return of the book, I am). She also related that she is no longer working at the Radisson and is currently unemployed and hoping for a better year in 2011. I too hope she finds a job. I was right when I loaned her the book - she's a nice gal. ;)
So I think I have a book on my shelves at home that has strayed too far from its owner and which I've had for a lot of years. I remember who it belongs to and think I will pay this forward and return it to its rightful owner. Okay, now before you get all judgemental, it was loaned to me by a lady with whom I worked about a decade ago, and shortly after the loan, she left the employment of the company and I never heard from her again. Granted, I did not make an effort to find her, and she did not include her address on the front inside cover - but I could have tried. Believing that kindness merits and begets more kindness, I am inclined to do just that. I'll let you know if I find her.
No comments:
Post a Comment