Christmas Spirit

Hey look at me, twice in two days! I'm on a roll!

A few friends came over last night for some 'quiet drinks' (I decided we should leave when said friends started to play-fight too close to the bookshelves). We proceeded into town, which was strangely quiet for this time of year, and went to a couple of bars. On a walk down Courtney Place a man infront of me dropped a ten dollar note as he pulled something from his pocket. I picked it up and tapped him on the shoulder to give it back to him. He looked at me in amazement. "You angel. Thank you so much. What an honest girl."

As I continued walking to catch up with the boys (who had kindly not waited for me) I had that warm feeling you get when you do something nice for someone. But it wasn't what I did, but his response that mattered. Had he just said thank you, I would have been on my way and not have given the incident another moment's thought. But it was his absolute suprise that, in turn, suprised me.

I would never have thought of pocketing the money myself when I had seen the person drop it two seconds before. First of all, it really is just like stealing. Secondly, who knows what his financial situation is? That $10 could have meant the difference between getting home safely in a taxi or an hour-long walk home. Thirdly, it's Christmas people! Not that I am hugely into the festive season myself, but if people are going to be honest and kind, surely this is the time to show it.

Sometimes I despair of we as a species, as I'm sure many of you do too. But maybe I'm just over-analysing all of this whilst at the same time giving myself a hearty pat on the back for my honesty.