By Sree Sreenivasan, technology reporter
Heading home from 30 Rock on the #1 train this morning, I encountered Reason #5421 why I love NYC.
As I got up from my seat and was about to exit onto the 96th Street platform, I heard a shout from inside the car. Turned out my wallet had fallen out of my pants pocket onto the seat – and it was a friendly New Yorker pointing to it. I quickly picked it up and jumped out of the train, squeezing out several “thank yous” to the stranger.
Just one more example of why I love living here.
I happened not to have any cash in the wallet, but it has credit cards, IDs and my driver’s license – all things that are a real hassle to replace. Plus, I have it stuffed with receipts that I hope to one day turn in for reimbursement.
Speaking of my wallet, my wife thinks it resembles that of George Costanza.
From the Urban Dictionary:
george costanza’s wallet
Referring to the Seinfeld episode where George’s wallet was so overstuffed with junk that it made him sit at a tilt with it in his back pocket; forcing him to even it out by stuffing his other back pocket with napkins. Eventually, the wallet exceeds maximum density and explodes on the street in a shower of cash and receipts.
Hey! Don’t over stuff that or it’ll go like George Costanza’s wallet!
And here’s an excerpt of the episode of “Seinfeld” where we first met his George’s wallet:
(George pulling out his wallet.)
GEORGE: Because important things go in a case. You got a skull for your brain, a plastic sleeve for your comb, and a wallet for your money.
(Jerry holding up a hamburger while holding George’s wallet.)
JERRY: But look at this thing. It’s-it’s huge. You got more cow here than here.
GEORGE: I need everything in there.
(Jerry looking through George’s wallet )
JERRY: Irish money?
GEORGE: I might go there.
JERRY: Show this card at any participating Orlando-area Exxon station…to get your free ‘Save the Tiger’ poster.
(George grabbing back his wallet.)
GEORGE: All right, just gimme that. And gimme some of those Sweet & Lows.
Episode 168 – The Reverse Peephole (a.k.a. The Man Fur)
pc: 912 season 9, episode 12
Broadcast date: January 15, 1998
Only those who’ve never lived in New York would be surprised by this. I lived in Atlanta for 3 years and can tell you that New Yorkers are 10x more helpful than people in other parts of the country. It’s just that we’re usually too damn busy, so it looks as though we don’t care.
Hey – maybe HopStop can label the stations and lines that have the most good samaritans…
it’s true. I enjoy the absolute surprise of tourists who have NY’ers stop and ask them if they need help getting somewhere, just out of the goodness of their hearts!
that’s amazing! it’s great to know that there are people with good hearts out there. and i love how real live always mirrors seinfeld.
In 2003, my wife and I traveled from Tallahassee (FL) to Warsaw, Poland. We flew from TLH to Atlanta, then to Paris, and then to Warsaw. All along, I was under the impression that I had given my wallet to my wife, along with our passports. It was only on the Paris-Warsaw plane that I realized that my wallet was missing. (Fortunately, our passports and other documents were intact.) A few frantic phone calls from Warsaw produced no results. I realized I had probably left my over-stuffed wallet wedged into the aircraft seat pocket on the TLH-Atlanta flight.
On returning to the US five days later, I picked up the phone and began cancelling credit cards. When the mail arrived that afternoon, it had an envelope with my wallet in it — all contents intact. A handwritten note said, “When I lost my wallet a few years ago, someone returned it to me. I hope you will someday be able to return the favor. — Your fellow man.”
The envelope had a return address in Omaha, Nebraska, but when I tried to mail a thank-you note to my anonymous benefactor, it came back with an addressee unknown stamp. I shall remain forever grateful to him, not only for returning my wallet, but also for confirming my faith in the basic goodness of humankind.
Kindness is universal. I can cite examples of that happened here in San Francisco, travels in Europe, Central America and Asia. I’m sorry. New York isn’t all that unique in the larger realm of things
Years ago, I lost my wallet years ago getting out of a cab on the Upper West Side. I reported it to the police, went out and bought a new one. Two days later, I just happened to look down as I was entering my brownstone building, and there was an unmarked white envelope. Inside? The entire contents of my wallet — minus the cash. So happily, Sree’s story is unsurprising.
Not surprising! I find that New Yorkers are helpful most of the time. Another wallet story: A friend of mine left her wallet in a cab not too long ago. The next passenger who occupied the cab found the wallet and contacted my friend. Imagine that, he didn’t have to. He returned it to her with everything in it. Of course, she tipped him nicely and thanked him.
Don’t forget to leave easy contact information in your wallet in case it’s left behind or slides out of your pocket. If people have to go looking for information, they might just not bother.
Nice way start off your day Sree! Enjoy your weekend!