A strange and amazing thing happened to me today

[lunatica]

This morning my son opened my front door to go out and he saw a white envelope sticking out from under the doormat. It had my first name written on it with a simple drawing of a flower done with a pen. It had $280 dollars in it.

That's it. No matter how much I try to figure it out I don't have a clue who would have done such a thing. I'm only relatively close to one neighbor though I'm pleasant to all of them. I live in a condo. The handwriting seems to be that of a female because the "i" in my name has a circle over it instead of a dot and there's a rather childlike drawing of a flower. All done with a pen.

I don't remember loaning anyone money for years so it can't be a repayment. As a matter of fact I've had to swallow my pride and ask for loans (which I paid back as soon as I could) a few times in the last couple of years. I don't discuss my finances with people unless they're friends but like I said, I don't recognize the handwriting.

I'm amazed. I'm touched. And I'm totally puzzled.

That money was given to me in such a way that I can't give it back. I remember giving money like that about 15 years ago to a young mother so she could get her daughter some Christmas presents one year when she didn't have enough income. I never owned up to being the giver, even when she asked me if I had given it to her. I meant for it to be anonymous and for her to have no choice but to keep it.

I'm sure it isn't that young mother because she moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan many years ago and I live in California.

edited for bad unintentional grammar

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Perhaps there are angels among us...

You obviously have a good friend who doesn't want to be identified or thanked or reimbursed.......

What goes around, comes around...

[lunatica]

7. Maybe it is karma

All the more reason to be kind isn't it?

[LiberalLoner]

8. Yes. :) It is so lovely to read of something nice like this! I am so glad

for this. A kind poster has something nice happen to them. Makes a person believe in the world again!

[shcrane71]

2. That gave me goose bumps. Thanks for sharing!

We all need more random acts of kindness in our lives.

[lunatica]

4. If it hadn't had my name on it I would have thought it was a mistake

Or that it was meant for someone else.

[shcrane71]

36. That's perfect. I'm sure the sender has good

karma surrounding him/her.

[MinneapolisMatt]

3. It sounds like karma smiled upon you!

How wonderful!

[Raine]

5. That's so nice, THANKS for sharing it

it revives my faith in my fellow man a bit.

[LeftofObama]

6. What a great story.

Just when I'm about to give up on humankind stories like this come along.

[lunatica]

10. That's exactly how I feel

And when it happens to you it really carries a wallop. I've been close to tears today because of it.

[lonestarnot]

9. Woohoo.

Somebody had a good streak.

[panader0]

11. I had to go check my doormat immediately.

Kidding-I'm sure you deserve it (and probably need it). Good for you.

[lunatica]

15. I certainly need it

But so do a lot of people nowadays.

[NNN0LHI]

12. Have you ever had someone steal something from you before? Maybe even a long time ago?

Might even had an idea who it was but weren't sure?

Sounds like someone who maybe has a guilty conscience and may be trying to clear something up.

Don

[lunatica]

17. Sure I've had things stolen, but I'm sure it was never anyone I knew

I've had people borrow money which they never repaid but that was literally decades ago.

[bvar22]

40. Possibly "ammends" from someone in a 12-Step Program?

I wouldn't be surprised.

[notadmblnd]

13. sounds like you were a victim of a RAK- Random act of kindness

accept it graciously and pay it forward if you ever get the chance.

[lunatica]

14. I would think so too except it had my name written on the envelope

Otherwise I would be sure it was meant for another person and that they got the condos mixed up.

[Liberal_in_LA]

16. wow. someone did something really kind. it is someone you know, nearby

[Paka]

18. What a lovely story.

It is an odd amount and that would make someone try to remember an old loan. But likely it's just as an earlier poster said, "a random act of kindness." They are all too rare, but awesome in action. Enjoy yours and then you will continue to pass it on, just like you have in the past.

[Honeycombe8]

19. Wow. What a great thing to have happened. Karma or an angel. Either way...poof! You've been

blessed!

[TahitiNut]

20. That's TWO gifts in one.

(1) the money
(2) the wonder of realizing how many people you have in your life who MIGHT have done it

Nice.
(That's why I love giving anonymously.)

[onethatcares]

21. I can't add more to this thread except

for you and whoever.

Your story just made my day a bit brighter.

[tclambert]

22. Why $280? That may be a clue!

I'm gonna remember this story the next time I give money away. Last time we paid a month's rent for a neighbor's mobility chair, he guessed it was us right away.

[sabrina 1]

23. That is a wonderful story! All the more so that the giver does not want to be identified.

Maybe someone paying forward on an act of kindness they received. So nice to be reminded of the goodness in this world.

[HeiressofBickworth]

24. Oh, let me rain on this little parade:

Did someone run into your car in the parking lot? As lovely as it would be to think there is such a thing as random acts of kindness, unless you are truly destitute, this gift of money is illogical. There must be a story behind it and once you know the story, it will make sense to you.

Sincerely,
a born cynic

[lunatica]

28. No one ran into my car or damaged anything of mine

But your guess reminded me that once I forgot to put the hand brake on my car when I went the bank. I didn't realize the street was on an incline and when I came out it had rolled backwards into and crashed into the driver's door of another car. It dented it quite a bit. No one was around but I left a note for the driver telling him/her my name, my telephone number, how the accident happened and my insurance information.

A few days later I got a call from a body shop owner asking me if I was the person who had left the information. I assured him I was and that if he could call the insurance company they would then verify the accident with me. He was pretty flabbergasted that I didn't just take off. And when my insurance rep called me she too was very surprised. Both of them told me how impressed they were because I could have just taken off.

Maybe I have been paying it forward for quite a while. It never occurred to me to think of it that way. Although I do believe in some form of karma.

As for the other, well I'm sure this person must know me. I just can't think of who it could be. Maybe in a few days I'll think of who it could be.

[a2liberal]

25. Is your first name pretty unique?

I hate to even suggest it and rain on the parade (and I sincerely hope I'm wrong), but could it be your "wrong condo" theory still with someone that has the same name?

[lunatica]

29. Well your theory could be right

I'll hang onto it for a while and see if someone comes around asking about it. My first name is Judith. A name everyone has heard yet it isn't that common. Especially as Judith since most people call themselves and are called by the shorter name of Judy.

I go by Judith. So it could be someone that knows that about me. Therein lies the part of why I'm so puzzled.

And my condo is placed in a unique spot in the complex. It's the only building that faces the swimming pool and not another condo. So someone may have done that but surely they would have noticed the difference in the immediate surroundings.

[MineralMan]

26. I'm sure you'll pay it forward when you can.

Sometimes, stuff happens when you need for it to happen.

[Orrex]

27. It was a warning

If you don't straighten up, they might leave some real money next time!

[lunatica]

30. You mean I should continue to be Lunatica?

Hey! Not a problem.

[Warpy]

34. No, it was a set of instructions

so s/he'd know enough to into the backyard and picking money off the trees so nobody would ever have to leave another gift.

Apparently flowering trees are the ones that produce money.

[lunatica]

38. LOL!

I love money trees! I've been looking for one for years!

[steve2470]

31. That is a very lovely story

I'm sure you deserve every penny of it and more It's things like that that renew my faith in humankind and give me more reason to keep on enjoying life.

[chervilant]

32. Such a gift

leaves you dazed and a wee bit bemused, doesn't it?

I don't share this to upstage you, but I had a similar experience earlier this year (January). Someone used an avery label to attach an envelope to my door. Inside I found 10 $100 bills. On the top bill was a sticky note that said (in block print): God is Good.

I desperately needed the money (four years un- or under-employed) and it's the ONLY reason I was able to move in with a friend in Northwest Arkansas.

I still do not know who gave me this incredible gift. (I am thankful for it, AND for the opportunity to record this event online, in case the donor follows my posts--most of my close friends know about my activism).

[lunatica]

33. That's exactly how I feel

And believe me stories like yours and mine certainly don't get less important for the sharing of them. Thanks for telling me that story. It's a wonderful story and it changed your circumstances.

I've been through a few rough years financially so I know what something like this means to a heart.

[FedUpWithIt All]

35. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with us.

These are the types of things that keep me going.

[malaise]

37. How lovely

Maybe the young mother moved back to California

[lunatica]

39. No. We're still in touch