The Universe is Kind and Mountains Made of Beef Jerky

THING I’D NEVER DONE BEFORE: Bought a copy of the New York Times from one of the newsstands

OTHER THINGS OF NOTE: I was not feeling great this day. Not sure why. Just felt a bit under the weather. So, I kind of took it easy, and then walked down to Columbus Circle in the afternoon. While I was there, I saw a huge Mount Rushmore made out of beef jerky.

Although, upon reflection, it's not really huge compared to the ACTUAL Mt. Rushmore. Really pretty tiny, compared to that. Beef jerky, I am not impressed.

As I was walking back, I realized I hadn’t eaten anything since my morning yogurt, and I got a piece of spinach pizza from Freddie and Pepper’s, which has great New York style pizza. I was planning to sit there and work on my crossword, but all of the seats in the small basement restaurant were taken, so I just went around the corner and started walking toward the park. My hunger and tiredness got the best of me, though, and I sat down on the steps of one of the brownstones and began to eat, hoping none of the residents would enter or leave while I sat there. It proved to be a tense experience, and, in fact, one resident did come up out of the building and gave me an awkward once-over and half-smile, at which point I decided to finish the rest of the pizza on the move.

Then, I went for a run and was starting to feel better when I got a call from an unknown number. I answered suspiciously. A man introduced himself and asked me if I’d lost my wallet. I was about to say no, and then I looked down at my backpack. Was it possible my wallet had fallen out of it, or I’d left it somewhere? I searched through it, but it wasn’t there.

Me: “Wow, I guess I did lose my wallet. I didn’t even realize it was gone!” Him: “Yes, I know, because I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for the past few hours. I didn’t know who to contact, because I didn’t see a business card in there. I ended up calling your mother, from your license, and she said she wasn’t surprised. She gave me your number.” Me: *inarticulate noise*

My license, you see, is still a Florida license. So, it has my parents’ address on it. To the fact that this man and my mother had conferred over the loss of my wallet as one would over a wayward child, I did not know how to respond. However, I was extremely grateful he had found it and sought me out to return it. We arranged a meeting and I got it back. I offered him baked goods and he refused, saying a good deed ought to be done for a good deed’s sake. And all’s well that ends well.

CHEESY THING: I couldn’t help but reflect on the kindness of the universe, and the goodness that can be found in our fellow human. And feel grateful to be a part of it. And also grateful to have my wallet back. Thanks, Universe, and Oury Marciano, who is a very honest broker, if you are looking for one.