Letter: A simple act of kindness when needed (March 12)
This letter must be shared for all to know kindness goes a long way and much further in emotions.
My spouse and I are a retired couple now, after both of us having worked at least 45 years.
We are counting on our social security income but with gratitude at reversing our roles of labor. Which means it’s Heaven to get paid while we get to be home or go here and there at our desire day or time. We’re loving it.
Of course our income is pretty much at one of the lowest paid out from Social Security so our monthly income is very important to us to receive our checks on time and without problems.
My husband had to send a signed form on this particular occasion in order for his check to be sent to him. Well, he filled it out and signed it, and uh-oh, we had no postage stamps.
So off we went to the Madera Post Office. It was Saturday so the office was closed. We tried to work the stamp machine located inside the entry of the Post Office, but the machine would not take cash and I was not able to use my debit card for I was not sure I had enough money on the card for this transaction.
So we decided to go across the street to the next corner and buy a stamp at the local pharmacy. We hurried over there and no stamps are sold there so off we walked to the nearest shop that did have a post stamp coin machine. Got change and the stamps. And …
Oh Lord, the letter was not with me. My blood rushed through me as I scrambled all over and over and repeatedly for the letter. My husband and I panicked and I told him I must have set it down when we were trying to work the machine in the Post office! We first stopped at the pharmacy on our way and it too had just closed. I pounded at the door until finally a pharmacist came and unlocked the door and I explained what happened and he was nice to let me come in and check for my letter. No nothing. In distress we hurried as fast as we could back to the post office, I never knew we could cut rug like that.
It had only been about 10 minutes in all. We ran into the building and hurried to where we were fussing before. No letter to be found. We searched every corner on and off the floor.
We dug through the trash cans, took everything out and looked one by one of every piece of paper and tossed mail. No letter anywhere. We looked twice, three, four times in the same places. We knocked on the door till an employee came out. We explained what happened, and asked whether they could look to see if someone threw our letter in the bin slot. The employee looked and saw nothing without a stamp. We came home so upset we were sick to our stomachs.
We were too distraught, so we went back again and again retracing our steps. Even looked on the road thinking I may have dropped the letter. No nothing.
I knew what lay ahead now. We’d have to wait until Tuesday because Monday was President’s Day. Then we’d have to try to get through to the Social Security for another form to be sent, which takes a good three to four days to get to talk to a person. Another week for a second form to be sent and another week for them to receive our letter and another week for a check to be cut.
Oh my, we were so worried sick over this. My husband said maybe someone saw it and put a stamp on it for us. In this day and age I replied, “no.” I told him, “someone probably saw it and thought there was money or a check inside and took it, then opened it in their car and to their surprise — no money, so they threw it.” No one does a good gesture anymore. He said “you and I would,” but I just told him the odds are too far fetched.
We called to report the lost form on Tuesday and didn’t get through to talk to a person until Thursday. They said a new form will be sent out but will take 10 working days.
We accepted our horrible mistake and learned by it.
Well, Friday, the mailman came, and I went to get our mail. To my shock, my husband’s check was there. Someone had seen the letter lying there without a stamp ready to go and had the compassion and kindness to put a stamp on the letter and toss it into the mail slot.
I just want that person to know how we are both so very grateful. I can’t express how elated I am. You have changed our fate from dark to light. You don’t know how much that meant to us and prevented a long hardship of a wait to us.
Thank you with every ounce of gratitude we hold. It has made me see Maderans reach out.
I was so wrong in thinking people don’t care for one another.
I hope Madera community will feel inspired by the acts in us that can have an overwhelming outcome for others. We just never know how we can touch someone with kindness.
Joyce Echavarrea,
Madera
