Honesty

This morning I went to have coffee with the guys left my wallet there one of the guys stopped by my house with it and said I thought you might be needing this. I thanked him nice to know there are good poeple out there - not some s.o.b.that would run off with it and have fun.Last year I found a wallet called the person and I guess I made their day.

It would be nice if these random acts of kindness catch on. That is good news. Ron

Think your last sentence sorta sums it up. I always believe what goes around comes around. Looks like it was your turn to receive a good deed. Good to hear good things like this.

I have thought of the following: What if you found money in a wallet, with no ID. Do you turn it over to the cops? Or keep the money?

I once stopped in a C-store, and when I turned from the register I found a $10 bill lying on the floor. I gave it to the cashier and told him someone obviously dropped it.

He probably stuck it in his pocket, but my conscience was clear.

(quoted from post at 09:06:33 10/19/08) I have thought of the following: What if you found money in a wallet, with no ID. Do you turn it over to the cops? Or keep the money?

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I found about a hundred bucks once while walking. looked like it had been just stuffed in a pants pocket and dropped when they got their keys or something. When I got back to the start tent (was on a Volksmarch) I had the band that was playing announce that someone found some money and the owner needed to say how much, what kind of bills. No one reported it so I kept half and gave half to the town church. Should live a long time until the man decides whether to let me in or send me downstairs.

Dave

good deeds. Nice work.

This past summer I found a jacket on the road in front of the farm. Had a gal's work ID badge and some loose change. My dad her up and called, and she came and got it. She were very rude when she came, only asking if we found her husband's jacket too.

They had them in the back of their truck or boat when they went down the road- his was long gone.

Donovan from Wisconsin

People sure are gracious, arent they don?? :-(

I really liked your post Plow Man. Those things do happen and don't get the publicity that so many other things do these days. The same kind of thing happened to my son at a local gas station. He left his credit card on top of one of the pumps after running it through the reader and then put the nozzle back in the pump and drove away, forgetting the card. Within a half hour, the station called him to tell him they had his card that was turned in by one of our locals. The place is one of the new "convenience marts" and is a place where guys not only buy gas but also meet in the morning for coffee and solve the world's problems. As you no doubt know, country folks do have this trait called honesty and this simple honest act is not unheard of from our neighbors who happen to live in the country. Now, having said that, about two months ago, Tony Dungy, who is a pretty good guy himself and the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, did the very same thing -- he mistakenly left his credit card on top of the pump at a gas station in Indy. The very next customer who drove up to the same pump found Coach Dungy's credit card, took it into the cashier to turn it in and to be returned to Tony. While not being the largest city in the U.S. by far, Indy does have a population of over a million including the nearby metropolitan area. As in the case of my son, the results might not have been the same and with Coach Dungy -- that is to say that a less than honest person could have bought everything in sight -- but this did not happen. We are so fortunate at the very least to live in this country, but we are also extremely fortunate to live in a country where MOST people are honest and decent people who still have the strong values who make us so unique in the greater scheme of things. Thanks again for sharing your story, Plow Man.

Pat

My wife and I walked into a grocery store in a not so ritzy part of town. Saw a hundred dollar bill lying on the floor. Wasn't sure what to do. If i gave it to a cashier, it most likely would go in her pocket. Dilemma was solved when we walked down another aisle and saw this young mom franticly going through her purse. I asked if she needed any help and with tears in her eyes she said she lost her money. Guess how much.
Makes you feel pretty good when it all works out.

It is surprising sometimes, but the honest people are out there.

I was working in Jersey City, some favor job for the boss, he sent us and some equipment from a nearby site job for a new manufacturing plant, to clean up between two old brownstones that the person the favor was for owned, what mess, crackheads lived in one and the crack viles were scattered everywhere, I was running a single axle dump in and out of there, and somehow lost my wallet, now knowing that this area in Jersey City was about as bad as a neighborhood there could be, some older hispanic or latin american woman, of senior citzen age, called the contractors office where I worked, and let them know they found it, prior to I was upset and really depressed about it, was booked to get on a plane for California shortly, for a vacation and to visit relatives, not a good time to lose ones wallet, if you think about it.

Never was sure how it got away from me, or where it was found in relation to both sites I was working at the time, but was always cognizant of where it was and did not carry it often, just enough money in my pocket as needed, wallet would be locked in the car. I never kept money in it, but all those things you have to cancel, replace etc., just annoying to say the least.

I went and thanked this person, left an appropriate tip, you could just tell she was of her cultural tradition, religious judging by the things in her small apartment and as friendly as ones grandma, is how I would describe her, someone whom you have known all your life, yet she was a total stranger, just a sweet elder lady who knew what the right thing to do was, you just wish all of society would follow her example.

It could have ended up in someone elses hands, though there was no money in it, even then, I'm sure a crackhead would have found a away to commit fraud or something, you loose something like this in a neighborhood like that, slim chance you'll ever get it back, but not that day, will never forget that woman and what she did.

Have no idea how she figure out where I worked, no number on the trucks, somehow someway she got through.

Lost one while delivering roof trusses to a building that was getting a gut rehanb and new pitched roof, the ground floor was a dark cave, no temp lights, had to go in there during the delivery, our yard was just a few blocks away, was located in the city too, so I traced my steps, went back with a flashlight and low and behold, there it was, where it fell out, have done the retracing of my steps anytime I lose something and most times it pays off, just have to stay calm and think it out, then go back, had a set of motorcycle keys fall out once, we were playing ball on a field in a large park, well I figured that they must have fallen out where I jumped over this small creek/wet area, after thinking about it, kind of a sudden move when I jumped caused them to fall out, yep exactly where I found them too. There was a lot of area to check, but thinking it out paid off.

Left my digital camera on the lawn at a big fireworks display several years ago, realizing on the way home, well at the end all the people rush out to beat traffic, well that is a joke cause that is the soon to be traffic, but I went right back, no one saw it because they rushed out, there it was, right where I left it.

found a purse on the side of the road just past a gas station.Figured the lady put it on the roof of the car and drove off.found out she worked up the road from the gas station,when I dropped it of,not so much as a thank you.Bill M.

A friend of mine found a wallet and called the owner to pick it up.The owner wanted to know where was the rest of his money was.My friend said there was a 20 in it,the owner said 200.He called the cops who said it was his word against my friends.He called my friends work and tried to get him fired.If i ever find any thing it will go to the police,let them find the owner.

In my haste to get loaded up, I once forgot to pick up a very expensive flyrod at the boat launch. A few miles down the road, I replayed the loading and didn't remember packing the rod--it always goes in a tube. I turned around and when I arrived at the launch, someone had picked up my rod and layed it along the parking bumpers, out of sight but where I could find it. Restored my faith in mankind.

Larry in Michigan

My wife bought a new purse at a shopping mall. For fun, I put the old one on the car roof and we went back inside. Figured someone would steal it. No, someone put it back inside the unlocked car!

A lot of times people get discouraged by the bad things that go on, but the good people still greatly outnumber the bad. We just have to make sure we don't get too cynical, which can be very easy to do sometimes. We just need to remember that for every evil deed we hear about, there are countless good ones that nobody knows about.

daughter lost 50 dollar bill out of her purse ,newly marriedand needed money badley.Saw a man pick it up but would not give it back.But life goes on.

Couple of years ago on my way to Canandaigua tractor show, stopped by the money magic machine to fill up the wallet. I pulled into the drive through machine and the machine was logged on! I mean the screen was set up to dispense cash, just needed to select which account.

I punched done and the machine spit the card out. Put my card in and got the cash. Went to the tractor show and called the guy on the card. No one home,so left message and my phone number,to the effect stop by and get your card.

Ten minutes late the phone rang, and it was the guy's wife. HE WILL BE RIGHT ALONG TO PICK IT UP.
Second time he has done it, she says.

True to word, the guy stops and I give him the card. He thanks me profusely, but says, did you
have to leave word on the answering machine so
wife would find out!!

I found a woman's purse laying in the street and looked thru it to find a name and there was a good bit of money in it. I called after I found her phone number and called and asked if she had lost something. She was almost too shaken to talk and I gave her my address and didn't take very long for her to arrive. She grabbed that purse and didn't as much say, thank you. She jumped in the car and left. Hal

I found a woman's purse laying in the street and looked thru it to find a name and there was a good bit of money in it. I called after I found her phone number and called and asked if she had lost something. She was almost too shaken to talk and I gave her my address and didn't take very long for her to arrive. She grabbed that purse and didn't as much say, thank you. She jumped in the car and left. Hal

I remember about 3 or 4 yrs ago there was a couple in a RV that He had left his wallet on top of the pick-up while getting fuel.

Money was flying out of the wallet onto the freeway so motorist called 911 to report it.

Before it was over with, the cops 5point stopped the couple and kids, made them spead eagel on the wet pavement at gun point while they were hard cuffed ( sat upon to be handcuffed), one officer shot and killed the family basset hound as it was attacking him while wagging his tail.

The cops smelled a drug deal that had gone bad and is why all the money was flying out of his wallet.

T_Bone

Slightly off topic, but along the same lines -- many years ago when I was about 16, I was brush-hogging a field along a country road. I noticed a car pulled off near the gate, and as I made the rounds, I saw two ladies sitting in the car. I could also see the muffler dragging pretty badly. I stopped and asked if they had problems - they said the car was making a real funny, bad noise. I got some wire off the tractor and crawled under the car and wired up the muffler. I told them it was a temporary fix that would get them home. They never thanked me, just acted like they were disgusted that it took me so long to rescue them.

This is a little off the topic on this thread. I remember years ago my wife and I stopped at an orchard and bought a number of things, including nice ripe peaches and a watermelon. Well, after closing my wife's door and getting ready to buckle our first child into her carseat, I noticed that my wife had already started to eat one of the peaches. I quickly did the buckling and ran around to the drivers side to make sure I didn't miss out on the best peaches. When we got home....where was the watermelon? Well, let me see I remember putting it on the roof to get your door....OOPS!

Christopher

One time my mom was at a store in a shopping center in the car and she watched a gal changing her crying babies diaper in the backseat of her car with door open as some people do. The lady put the dirty diaper in the stores bag and left it in the top of the shopping cart and left. (I know, kinda disgusting) In a few minutes a car sped up and they grabbed the bag and drove to the side of the lot to check out the "loot" they had just scored. Needless to say they peeled out in a huff. ha ha

Just happened to me last Friday. Went in to pay for my tank of gas, and someone had left a bank envelope on the counter, like they'd just cashed their paycheck and pulled out money for their own purchase. I pointed it out to the cashier and manager.

Sure, I could've pocketed it and no one would've been the wiser. But I need to sleep at night, and that wouldn't help.

I can imagine some other poor workin' stiff like me, got a mortgage, kids to raise, $7500 owed to divorce lawyer, etc. If I lost a paycheck, I'd be screwed big time.

Y'all have a good day!

Anthony

Sounds like the cost of chivalry and good manners!

Years back when my Dad was about the age I am he lost his wallet but wasn't sure when or how but had a hunch it happened when he was checking out a tractor he had rented to a contractor at a job site at a local college. Assuming it was gone for good, he got a new license, credit cards, SS card etc. and canceled all the old stuff. Almost 1 year later he gets a phone call one night, a young girl asking him some questions. It seems she was jogging on the track at the college, slowed to a walk to cool down and got off the track to let others go by and stumbled on something in the dirt. Curious she dug at it with her foot and unearthed my Dad's wallet with money and all still inside. She took it home and asked what to do and was advised to try to find the owner of which she did. The interesting part of this story, she was a foreign exchange student from Japan. Dad went to pick it up and handed her a 100 dollar bill, more than was in his wallet. She refused it telling him she was so thankful for her opportunity for an education in America and that was good enough. He gave the money to the college the following day in her name. Yet another reason I am proud of my Dad, and the reason I'm the person I am today.

Man,thats disgusting!

Back when I was a teenager, I had lunch at the restaurant of a man who wasn't noted for his good humor. I paid with a 10, and he gave me back change for a 20. I handed the extra ten back and pointed out the error. He looked at me for about 5 (long) seconds, then handed the extra 10 back to me and actually smiled, "You made my day, kid, and that's worth ten bucks anytime." Well, Walt, I was too tongue-tied to say it at the time, but you made mine, as well.

That brings me back to high school shop.I was cleaning up around a wood lathe and found a lathe chisel under some scrap wood.Half the cutting edge was broken off.Took it to the shop teacher.He said we all had to stay after school until he found out who broke it.I asked him why he thought our class broke it.It had been laying under the scrap for a long time.Since we signed for a tools we used there should have been a signature on the tool.I told him I didnt break it so I wouldnt be staying after school and would spend the shop period in the study hall.Some of the nuts in the class thought I broke it.I quit school at the end of the school term and went to work in a radio tv shop.In later years I found a fellows wallet in the woods and sent it back to him .He sent me the 40.00 that was in the wallet.He was happy to get the wallet back as it had several credit cards in it and photos.There are times when honesty will get you in trouble.