The Mysterious Altruist

There are many signs that winter is over the horizon: the significant drop in temperature from days of ninety degree weather to days of rainy coat and scarf weather, the increase in the amount of steaming beverages being carried into school and work, the sun setting before you've even thought about dinner, and the person standing outside of your Schnucks/WalMart/store of your choice with a red bucket and a jingling bell. While it still may be a little too early to be thinking about winter (Sacrebleu, is it still only September?), it isn't too early to be thinking about giving.

This isn't an advertisement telling you how good you would feel if you gave money to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army or the charity of your choice. This is all I have to say:

STOP—petite story interjection time—Every year around Christmas time, the Salvation Army is out around busy stores, the usual. I used to beg my mum to let me drop a dollar in the bucket—but only in quarters because, let's face it, it's way more satisfying to hear four quarters drop against a metal bucket than a piece of crumpled paper. Every year for many many years where I live, there was, and still is, a mysterious altruist. And like clockwork every year, he or she drops a gold piece in the Salvation Army bucket. The gold piece is valued at about $1,500. No one has ever found out who this mysterious altruist is. -End of petite story interjection.

I think there's something to be said for the mysterious altruists of the world. They are like little ninjas going around and spreading good tidings and cheer. I would say they could start a club, but if they know each other then they lose the mysterious factor—goshdarnit, I love clubs.

There was an episode of Friends a while back (wait a second, they were all a while back, Friends ended eight years ago, Sam) where Joey said there was no such thing as a selfless good deed, because you nearly always feel good about doing good. Then Phoebe spent the remainder of the episode trying to find a selfless good deed, which I can't recall if she did or not. If all good deeds are selfish though, I think a little egoism can be justified.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Sammie

P.S. Wait a minute, they haven't even started selling Halloween decorations. I am getting ahead of myself. Has anyone else felt like this has been just the longest September?