Karma at the Laundromat

At the Naples Cleaners and Laundromat last night, after I suddenly decided I wanted to wash the comforters and found the jumbo washers free, I discovered $20 in quarters. They were in the change machine closest to the sink, as I'd overlooked one right next to the oversize washers.

I found no takers among the five people there, and was going back home during the wash cycle, so I gave the quarters to a guy there, in case someone came for them in my absence. When I returned, a mother and daughter were there, and I asked the Mom.

She said, "I did leave my change, but not in the machine closest to your end." She could have just claimed them absent anyone else there, but didn't. The guy I'd left them with could have pocketed them, but still sat there with headphones on, and quarters beside him, and I suppose I could have taken them.

But I'd mistakenly thought I dropped $70 in cash Dec. 23 and retraced my steps on Second Street for a half hour in which I prayed a Good Samaritan would be found, clutching my bills. And even though the wind was blowing, and the chances were zero that a passerby would even notice a skittering fold of bills, or having found them, wander around looking for their owner, or turn them into the nearest shopkeep, I wanted to believe that person was out there.

So it never occurred to me not to try and find the owner of the quarters, and I am embarrassed to say how thrilled I was to have found her last night. So I scooped up the quarters from headset guy, who nodded an 'Of course' and helped pile them into my palms, and I handed them over.

She was thanking ME for my honesty. But there were seven of us who wouldn't take what wasn't ours. Karma, it's a good thing, neighbors.