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Peoria Dad
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Posted: Tue Jan 6th, 2009 10:22 pm |
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Hi, just a note of thanks to all of you who made the holidays easier for those of our community in need.
Happy New Year to one and all.
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Peoria Dad
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Posted: Tue Dec 30th, 2008 03:20 am |
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| Awesome.
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areyounotkidding me
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Posted: Wed Dec 24th, 2008 10:34 pm |
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"There (are) still honest people in the world . . . people who do the right thing," Charles Keller told his 10-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son.
That timely reminder came for the Keller family at the hands of a stranger who in a fateful turn of events on Thanksgiving weekend set the course for fulfilling six Christmas wishes.
The stranger, Mark Whittle, also marvels at the holiday magic that must have been brewing when the Phoenix labor law attorney, Keller, and Tempe garbage collector, Whittle, crossed paths. But that story is best told from the beginning.
The day after Thanksgiving, Whittle was returning from his trash-collection route in south Tempe when he spotted something in the road.
"I thought I saw a wallet in the crosswalk," he said.
Although Whittle was in a hurry to get home to his wife for the holiday weekend, he said something made him decide to pull over.
"Cars were running over (the wallet) . . . (credit) cards had spilled out," he said. "It was kind of funny but there was a flier for a soccer tournament lying next to it. I bent down, picked up the cards and picked up the wallet. I also picked up the flier."
Whittle took the wallet to his supervisor, Ramon Saiz, who said he would notify the police. But Whittle worried that the person who lost the wallet would be anxious.
"My first reaction was I'd want someone to contact me because I know I'd start calling, canceling my cards," he said. "I asked, 'can we try to contact this person?' "
Saiz was happy to oblige. He searched the Internet, and a number for a Mr. Chuck Keller popped up. Saiz dialed and Keller's wife answered, saying her husband had recently phoned to tell her he lost his wallet in Tempe at their daughter's soccer tournament. Keller realized his wallet was gone when he needed cash during a midday lunch break. "When I couldn't find it, I thought I was going to have to leave my daughter with friends and go home to start canceling cards. I was worried about identity theft," he said.
But before Keller could leave, his wife called to tell him someone from Tempe's sanitation department had found the wallet miles from where Keller was.
"I figure someone picked it up, got scared and threw it out," he said. Keller drove to the sanitation plant and Saiz handed him the wallet.
"I looked inside and there was still $150 in there," he said. "I couldn't believe it ... my cards ... my license - nothing was missing. I was ecstatic...relieved. I asked where the guy who found it was so I could give him a reward."
Whittle was chatting with co-workers when Keller introduced himself.
"I wanted to hand him $100," he said. "He said, 'No.' But I was pretty persistent. I said, 'Listen guys, go buy yourselves a round of beer and some wings on me.' "
Whittle declined.
"I felt I was meant to find it," he said. "My heart just told me don't take the reward."
Keller said he insisted until Whittle proposed an alternative.
"If you really want to do something, use that money to buy presents off a Christmas angel tree," Whittle said.
Whittle chuckles remembering Keller's surprise at the suggestion.
"He got kind of teary-eyed," Whittle said.
"I was really touched. He didn't want any recognition," Keller said. "I told my kids, 'See this is exactly what you're supposed to do.' "
Keller said he thanked Whittle and the Tempe sanitation staff, promised to follow through on Whittle's Christmas request and said his goodbyes.
Upon returning to work Monday, Keller got another surprise. He was told his office was sponsoring a Christmas angel tree for Shaw Elementary School.
"I couldn't believe it. It was just too weird," he said. "I used the $150 and bought all the angels left on the tree. There were six or seven still."
Keller found Whittle's honesty and thoughtfulness so moving that he also wrote a letter to the Tempe City Council commending Whittle and his sanitation co-workers.
"I'm an employment lawyer. I hear about the really bad stuff. I wanted their bosses to know they had some pretty special employees who do the right thing," he said.
The council was impressed. Tempe will formally thank Whittle with a plaque honoring his good deed at the Jan. 8 City Council meeting.
"I'll be there to recognize him," Keller said.
Whittle said he was told about the letter and pleased Keller had followed through on his Christmas-angel promise.
"I honestly, truly believed that he would do it," Whittle said. "I'm just really glad it worked out. I benefited from knowing Mr. Keller got his wallet back and the kids who may not have got anything for Christmas also benefit from it."
Last edited on Wed Dec 31st, 2008 04:29 pm by areyounotkidding me
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Augustine
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Posted: Wed Dec 17th, 2008 04:18 am |
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| You're right, my daughters and I started our own tradition when they were very little by giving to those who children without. Both girls enjoy being able to do something for others.
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Gymsocks
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Posted: Tue Dec 16th, 2008 05:23 pm |
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| Peoria Dad, my children and I took your suggestion to heart and found out that ol' Esther is right: giving makes you feel good! And it was a great lesson for the children.
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UPC Is For Suckers
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Posted: Fri Dec 12th, 2008 09:38 pm |
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| Nice one dad. Last edited on Fri Dec 12th, 2008 09:38 pm by UPC Is For Suckers
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areyounotkidding me
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Posted: Thu Dec 11th, 2008 08:07 pm |
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Now isn't this a nice thread....leave it to Veda to make me feel guilty for posting about politics......
Here is a random act of kindness that more than one of you will appreciate. No more posting from me until after the New Year.....
We all contribute in our own way....
Peoria Dad, very nice post....I will follow your advice...
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activepeorian
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Posted: Thu Dec 11th, 2008 05:32 pm |
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Just little acts of kindness can go a long way for everyone.
I read on another board where someone was in the drive thru line at Starbucks and the person ahead paid for their drink. That person paid for the drink behind them.
I make a lot of candy, cookies, cakes and pies during the holidays and I love nothing more than to give them out.
So even if you just help someone out in little ways, it sure makes the holiday bright.
Another Christmas memory was every year we would go to my various relatives houses. As an only child, it was fun to be around other kids. All the family would bring tons of food. For some reason the most memorable thing brought was ham and swiss cheese sandwiches with spicy mustard. At my house, we just never had swiss cheese so it seemed like such an exotic thing to eat every year! Mississippi Mud and Coca Cola cakes were always a staple and the only time we ate those during the year.
After my grandparents died the tradition stopped and I started going to movies with my friends in the afternoon. My mom worked nights at the hospital so it worked out well for us all.
We gave things such as my outgrown clothes, new toys and money to some of my dad's side of the family. Several lived in the "projects" or out in the "backwoods". When I was younger I was selfish and mad at first that we would do that when we didn't have that much either but grew to understand what it meant to them and to my dad. I felt ashamed as a teen that I had felt that way. They truly grieved when my dad passed because he was so giving and kind.
As a young adult a bunch of us would get together at my house and fix dinner. One year someone gave me a pasta maker and we decided we would try it. We didn't eat dinner until 11:00 but laughed at our attempts for fresh pasta.
It seems the holidays bring on family, friends, food, good times and random acts of kindness!
Last edited on Thu Dec 11th, 2008 08:50 pm by activepeorian
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Esther Gruntz
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Posted: Thu Dec 11th, 2008 03:59 pm |
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Peoria Dad, nice post. I finally got tired of looking at all the junk in my garage. I piled about 80% of it out on my driveway and called the Salvation Army. It helped me and it helped them. I could have had a yard sale, but this was better.
Not to sound all mushy, but it is true, that sometimes "giving" is the best gift you can give yourself.
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Peoria Dad
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Posted: Thu Dec 11th, 2008 03:16 pm |
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nalko830, sounds like you need to get into podcasting!
Just a note, I know a few extra pennies are really hard to come by these days, but if you're in a position to give a little extra, the food banks, shelters or the St. Vincent de Paul Society could really use it this year.
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nalko830
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Posted: Tue Dec 9th, 2008 10:23 pm |
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My best Christmas Memory was the year I received my first cassette recorder. I wore that thing out. I used it to produce radio programs for my parents and friends. It's funny what we thought was great 35 years ago.
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Uncle Fire
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Posted: Tue Dec 2nd, 2008 09:22 pm |
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Peoria Dad wrote: My best holiday memories were the times I spent with my parents, grand parents, brothers and sisters. Gifts come and go, but family is forever.
Mine too. I do remember some gifts quite vividly, but mostly remember being with family and the good times.
My most memorable gift was my GI Joe stuff. I had a bunch as a kid and man do I wish I still had that stuff. It was stored away in a crawlspace during my teens. At one point my mom gave it all away. DOH!
Kung Foo Grip FTW!!!
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Peoria Dad
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Posted: Tue Dec 2nd, 2008 03:36 pm |
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| My best holiday memories were the times I spent with my parents, grand parents, brothers and sisters. Gifts come and go, but family is forever.
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activepeorian
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Posted: Tue Dec 2nd, 2008 02:56 pm |
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Come on guys, lets be civil and kind! What was the best gift, fondest memory, disappointment or surprise that you gave or received during the holiday season.
My biggest disappointment was when I asked for a go kart. I really wanted a go kart and I begged and begged. During the early hours of Christmas I passed the living room to go the bathroom and thought I saw my go kart. I could hardly sleep anymore. When it was time to get up I rushed in the room and there on the floor....... a desk with it legs still on the side. My parents said girls don't get go karts. I never got my pony or piano either!!!!!
The best was when it snowed for Christmas. In Nashville, it rarely snowed until January. One Christmas we had several inches of snow and got to go sledding. We drank hot chocolate and had a great time!
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