I just saw this story retweeted, but it so fits this collection. I was moved by what this person did simply as the right thing to do, and what we would hope some other stranger might do if it was us who lost very important papers.

Plus, I recognize very well the Candy Kitchen boxes from my own childhood growing up in Maryland… oh the salt water taffy! Words to live by:

Take time to be kind. I dare ya.

 

So there I was— Saturday. Driving through Bellehaven (Alexandria) on my way to my nephews’ CrossCountry meet at Fort Hunt Park. Car ahead of me beaked and swerved. Car ahead of them, too. I saw why— there was an accordion file folder in the road, stuff strewn about. I stopped. 1/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

Of course I stopped— that’s a thing I’d do— forget something on the car and drive away. I started to gather what’d been scattered. Check books, mail, paperwork. Oh damn. This is someone’s whole — this matters to someone. 2/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

I pulled over and looked for a name, did a quick Twitter search. Didn’t find the name. In the file, I found a death certificate. Damn. Ok. There was a Delaware address on the mail. *sigh*

Ok.

Off to the track meet.

The paperwork will hold. 3/ pic.twitter.com/2LYm25aiBG

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

After the cross country meet— holy cow, that’s four hours of watching small humans run in circles and other small humans play and I’m lucky that my friends share their Littles with me.

After, though. 4/ pic.twitter.com/I2VqM9M6q8

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

After I’d had time to think about it,I knew how to find the family. I googled the name on the death certificate.

There you are, sir.

Let’s find out who hosted your funeral.

And so I called the funeral home. 5/ pic.twitter.com/q98tcywJFH

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

Imagine how fast I had to speak trying to explain it when this dude answered the phone at the funeral home. Hear me out. It’s a Greek name. I’m mid-dental crisis so my lisp is full throttle at the moment. 🙄

I spelled it s l o w l y … and he asked me to hold for his boss. 6/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

This is Saturday afternoon. I went slower. She heard me out, acknowledged the name was in her files. Asked how I’d known to call them.

“My gram was a funeral director— I know y’all keep records for a while.”

I gave her my number, said goodbye and hoped for a call. 7/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

Sat was family time and Unstable Unicorns and dinner and dessert and a sleep over and honestly, I forgot to keep checking my phone by the time I went to sleep. 8/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

Sunday was more of the same and no call (and I’d forgotten about it totally by now.) More unicorns, Fall crafts and family dinner and one more sleep (to the joy of the 6-year-old) and this morning when I was ready to leave, there was the file folder, locked in my car.

Still. 9/ pic.twitter.com/kAW9PySAFp

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

I lamented w/ my BFF, what if they don’t call? What if I can’t find them? There’s so much in that file folder….

“Dude, this is you. It will work out.”

Ok. Fair point.

Off to the farm.

Frost kill in full effect.

Seasons change. 10/ pic.twitter.com/NydsKznwfT

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t check my phone every few minutes— [I have it set so unknown calls don’t ring.]

OMG I missed a call and there’s a voice mail and —4 seconds into the voicemail I called him back.

“Hi! You called! I’m glad you called!” 11/ pic.twitter.com/X06TKGZxok

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

Said he hadn’t slept in two days. Called the police, insurance, the bank, anything to cancel or freeze the accounts and try to duplicate the paperwork in the folder.

Why— would you track me down?

Thank you but—

“Because it’s yours and I think everyone should be nicer.” 12/ pic.twitter.com/Yezgn0ZhyI

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

[terrible time for my phone to die. Sorry]

You still here? 13/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

I offered to drop ship it to him— he said he’d drive down from the Eastern Shore to pick it up today.

We agreed upon a spot.

“Later today.”

This afternoon I waited at @starbucks and he called and said he was almost here. Then here.

I walked out and oh, boy. 14/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

His mom, in all her feisty Yaya glory was talking to me and then at him a mile a minute as she got out of the back of the car. I haven’t been hugged that hard in a long, long time. He didn’t get a word in— neither did I.

She was tearful, thankful, chastising— all in one. 15/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 8, 2021

I think. It wasn’t all in English and for a minute I thought I was bein’ hollered at. Then she hollered at him and he responded, calmly. He handed me a bag, said they’d brought me fudge. She (still holding on to me) invited me to come to their restaurant. I think she offered 16/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 9, 2021

— her son to me in marriage. *I think. Poor dude. He thanked me profusely; she held my arm. I helped her inside to use the ladies room, she came out and kept on at the excited pace she’d been talking the whole l time.

I asked for a photo. She pulled me closer. Closer. 16/ pic.twitter.com/3L66zeEY8f

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 9, 2021

She asked me to take off my mask and *I think she bestowed some sort of blessing on me. Gesticulating and touching my shoulders and forehead. More emotional hugging.

“I’m Greek—“

Oh, I know.

I know.

“You come and we’ll feed you.”

Ok. Let’s get you in the car. 17/

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 9, 2021

And so. I tucked her into the backseat as she said “keep the bag, there’s green.” I waived to him, went inside and sat down, smiling.

I gifted half this fudge to the woman sitting by the window who’d watched it unfold.

I was overwhelmed by their gratitude.

Be kind. -fin- pic.twitter.com/vd6URxc2OA

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 9, 2021

P.S.: that folder had current tax docs, a death cert, life insurance pprwk, a current checkbook, checks, cash, some medical records, home owners insurance— that dude must’ve caught all kinds of grief from her for “losing” it and I’m so glad they have it back.

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 9, 2021

PP.S: he said he set it on top of the car and forgot it— when he’d come to town to take his mother to his father’s grave Saturday. It’s fortuitous then, it was the funeral director who connected us. [If ya believe in those kinds of things.]

Take time to be kind.

I dare ya.

— Pfizer on board— farming. (@JennsLenz) November 9, 2021