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Persistence Gets Results After 18 Years
In the spring of 1989 I found a small college class ring from Florida State University outside of a local credit union. The security guard inside was reluctant to take the ring since it wasn't found on their property. I took it home with me and was determined to find the owner. Upon close examination I could see a name etched on the inside of the ring, but could not quite make out the last name. At my next visit to the credit union I inquired about any assistance they might be able to provide about customers with matching names. They were unwilling to help in my quest to return the ring. I continued to think of ways to track down the owner of the ring. As the years went by I thought about the ring less and less until I forgot about it altogether.
I recently ran across the class ring and was reminded of my unfinished quest. I was hopeful that changes in technology over the last 18 years would let me complete my task. Before trying to research the owner on the internet, I took the ring to my jeweler and told him the story. He was able to magnify and read the name and also discovered a social security number. Using her full name, I first tried the internet to locate the owner. There were some leads, but nothing that pointed to the right person with certainty. Eventually I checked the website of Florida State University and found a number for the Alumni Department. I called and relayed the story of the ring. Within minutes they were able to identify the owner and her location. They agreed to try to reach her and provide my contact information for her to get in touch with me.
I received a call from Sally, the ring's owner, that afternoon. She now lives in North Carolina and had remarried a second time which explained the difficulties in my search for her. I told her the story and concluded with a heartfelt apology for the years she was without her ring. She seemed stunned, to say the least. Her father had given this ring to her as a gift, so it meant even more to her than "just a class ring." I returned to my jeweler with the ring, as he wanted to clean and polish it for her. I boxed up the lost treasure and shipped it the next day. Sally called me when she received it to express her sincere appreciation. The following day was her 40th birthday and she felt like she had received an extraordinary gift. I recently received a card from Sally. She hasn't taken the ring off since she got it back.
Editor's Note: Not only did Joann show the spirit of Inconvenience Yourself™, but so did the jeweler and the person at the Alumni Department.
Joann
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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Neighbor Shares Driveway During Blizzard
During a blizzard, Cleveland (Ohio) imposed a parking ban. I had no where close to park my car as my house had no garage or even a driveway. My neighbor moved his car into his garage (where he rarely parks) and offered his driveway space to me. This saved me having to trek several blocks in the snow to find another place to park.
Ann
Cleveland, OH
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Small Business Sounding Board
As a small business owner, I often need to impose on family, friends and other entrepreneurs for feedback on ideas. The bookmarks have proved to be the perfect expression of my gratitude for several people who have gone out of their way to help me and contributed to my business success. The recipients of the bookmarks have been pleasantly surprised with the small token of appreciation for their help. Several have called me to let me know the sentiment made them smile.
Anonymous
Plantation, FL
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Freeing Up A Handicapped Space
My sister and I had just been shopping at a local "big box" store. As we approached our car, someone parked a couple of spaces away finished unloading their cart into the trunk of their car. He then moved the empty cart out from behind his car - into the only nearby empty handicapped parking space. A few more steps and the cart could have been placed in the "cart return" area, leaving the handicapped space available. My sister walked over to the cart and moved it to the cart return area.
Anonymous
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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Relief from the Heat
During the heat of the summer, my grandson had a baseball game and I went to watch and pick him up after the game. As the game ended, a woman who lived in the neighborhood, who did not have a child on the team, came out and provided popsicles to hot and sweaty kids. I reached into my purse and handed an Inconvenience Yourself™ bookmark to my grandson who then thanked the “popsicle lady” with the bookmark.
Anonymous
Lexington, KY
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Random Act of Kindness
I want to thank you for the bookmarks which have already come in handy! Yesterday I had to turn away an elderly couple who were wheelchair bound because they were not members of the Club (an airline club) and chose not to pay the daily fee. As I was assisting them, out a customer who was on his way in asked me if the couple could be his guests. I told him that he would incur a $50 charge on his Priority Pass membership and he replied "That's OK...someone might do the same for my parents someday." I can't tell you how amazed the couple were by this random act of kindness and by the time everyone left new friends were made.
It was a real pleasure for me to be able to give a bookmark to Mr. English. Thanks again for giving me the opportunity!
Jim
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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