Good deeds

At the end of the work day Monday I went out in to the hallway from our office to find a $100 bill on the floor fairly close to our door.

My first thought was, "Wow, that's really horrible for the person who dropped this".

I picked it up and walked back in to my office to ask my boss if it was his (like anyone else in the office would be capable of carrying that kind of cash...please). It wasn't his - I laughed that he actually took his wallet out to check. I can't remember when I had a bill that high, or any bill for that matter, in my wallet.

Our office has been in transition lately. We were in one Suite, but are in a temporary one while we renovate and move in to our permanent Suite. There are a lot of construction workers in the building, walking up and down the halls. One guy came to my mind, the guy in charge of the framing. I remembered him stopping in to our office a little bit earlier to check in with my boss. I had a gut feeling it was his.

I folded it up at my desk and announced that I would ask around tomorrow...and if no one claimed it I guess we could all have a nice dinner (hmmm...how many boxes of diapers would that buy?).

Tuesday morning came and the previously mentioned framer came in to ask my boss a question. As he turned to leave I asked if he happened to drop any money the day before (I didn't mention how much it was, just in case he wasn't telling the truth). He quickly said "a 100 dollar bill??!!!".

I felt such relief and joy that the money had find it's rightful owner. I was not sad that I couldn't keep it for myself. I suppose I know how horrible it would be if I lost that kind of money.

He kept going on about how he was soooo thankful and SHOCKED that I asked him and was handing it back. He said "most people wouldn't do that".

That part took me aback. I thought, really? Most people wouldn't? I don't believe that. But, my boss, too went on about what a good deed it was and how it was noble and decent.

I don't consider myself to be the most moral person around, but I know the difference between right and wrong and about honesty and fairness, and I would like to believe there are more people out there like me than not. Unfortunately, I keep hearing different.

Maybe it's a credit to my friends that I think differently since I know all of my friends would have done the same.

So here's to all of us out there who do the right thing because it makes us feel better to do right than to be selfish and who's first thoughts are joy when something is returned to their owner. I know you're out there, and thanks for surrounding me and making me naive enough to think that more people are like us.