Good Karma Comes Back In Odd Ways -- the Lottery Ticket Hanging On A Bush...
Good Karma Comes Back In Odd Ways -- the Lottery Ticket Hanging On A Bush...
Karma comes back to those, who have done good, in odd ways. If, we are able to remain humble, the karma excels itself towards us. But, if, we become less humble, the return good-karma may, possibly, be missed...
On a cold day in February, 2007, my friend Thomas, who passed away from brain cancer in August of 2007, and I were waiting for a bus on Barbur Blvd., in Portland, Oregon. Thomas was sitting in his wheelchair. I had him bundled up, as much as one could be bundled, to keep him warm, and I had an umbrella. The Oregon rain was pounding like no-tomorrow. Thomas says, “look, out in the street!” I looked out in the street, and all I could see was cars, as, far, as, the eye could see. It was rush hour. It was Friday. And, the road home had turned into the vicious Friday night rush, with each driver trying to get ahead of the next. Horns blasting, people cutting others off, some blasting through the intersection without any regard to those who attempted to cross the maddening sea of the American Friday night hell bent rush to get home.
So, with not much interest I said to Thomas, “yea, just a bunch of damn cars!” “No!” He says. “In the middle of the street, look!” “Look at what?” “Look, there's a scratch ticket (lottery ticket) face down in the street,” says Thomas. I told him, “yea, more garbage in the middle of the street. It's just what we need, another piece of garbage.” He started to try to get out of his wheelchair, but, he was so sick, he fell back into it. “If I could just get out of this chair I'd go out and get it. I just know it's a winner.” “Are you absolutely nuts, I asked?” “I need the ticket,” he says. He tried to get out of the chair again. This time I told him, “sit down, I'll get the damn ticket!” So, I stomp out into flowing Friday night traffic, almost getting mowed down, stop the enraged motorists in the third lane, and grab the ticket. I never looked at it. It was really soggy. I make it back to curbside, more wet than before, with a full-blown downpour underway (Hey, its Oregon). “Here's your ticket, Tom” (he hated being called Tom). He slowly scans the ticket. Even, when we bought those scratch tickets at the store it took him the longest time to scratch a simple ticket, and even when he was well.
“See,” he says, “it's a winner!” I just looked at him, and said, “right. Let me see that thing.” And, you, know what? He was right, it was worth $5.
I asked him “how did you know that ticket was worth something?” And, here is what he said; “I always am nice to people, and I believe always being nice and kind to others produces good karma. Karma always comes back to you, but, sometimes people miss it. They miss it because they're too busy, or just plain don't realize it sits right in front of them. Just look at today, I wanted to buy you a little bottle of scotch, but, I didn't have any extra money, and you've been so good to me, and, so, I hoped to find good-karma, so I could buy that bottle of scotch. When I saw that ticket I felt it was the $5 I needed. When we need something it will come.”
(I will always wonder why he wasn't able to get the good karma he needed to live? He was always doing things for other people. Thomas died August 3, 2007, from brain cancer.) (And just as a side note, he always was worried what would happen to me after he wouldn't be here anymore. His goal each month was to make it to the third of the next month, so he could add his Social Security to our operations and make sure the rent was paid. And he kept meeting his 3rd of the month goal till he took his last breath. Thomas Robert Prints is the most amazing person I have ever known.)
June 3, 2008 (note the date, it's the third!)
It was around sunset when I left Fred Meyer's in Tualatin. I was a little short on my rent, and I was thinking about that, as, I lugged my two heavy bags of groceries up Martinazzi Avenue towards Sagert Street. It's a uphill run from Fred Meyer up to Sagert, via Martinazzi. As, I walked, it was beginning to get cold out. This spring has not produced the warmer temps we are use to, this time of year. My pace had slowed, due to the grade. There's a big, long hedge which separates the Oregon Department of Employment property from the eastern sidewalk of Martinazzi Avenue. I was walking on the sidewalk, glancing at the hedge, noting the different types of trash stuck in the hedge. A banana peel, a empty plastic bag, an empty pop can, an empty crushed up Marlboro box, an old weathered keno ticket, and I walked about another 100 feet, and in that 100 feet, the story I've just told you about Thomas, began to circulate through my mind. I remembered the lottery scratch ticket in the street.
I set my two bags of groceries down on the sidewalk, and walked back to the weathered keno ticket. And weathered it was. It was stuck on a branch, and, it had been stuck there for a while because the branch had worn a fairly large hole it its center from the wind blowing it back and forth on the branch. You could still read its date, May 8, 2008, and a faded bar-code, and nothing else, except for the Oregon Keno logo on it.
As, I grabbed it off the branch, I quietly said, “this had better be good, Thomas!” I folded it in half and put it in my wallet. About a week later I was at Fred Meyer's to cash in 50 cents worth of beverage cans (cans have a 5 cent deposit in Oregon, and have since 1973), and I took the ticket for the cans up to customer service to get my money. While in line I checked my wallet to see if I had any other can tickets I might have saved when I came across the Keno ticket. I pulled it out and started chatting with the lady, in line, behind me. I showed her the ticket and told her I found it. She mentioned how battered it was. I said, “they probably won't be able to scan it, and then I'll have to pay 42 cents and send it to Salem (Lottery Headquarters) for them to mail me the results of it being worth nothing.” And, we, both, laughed.
I get up to the front of the line, collect my 50 cents for the cans, and, then, show the Keno ticket and ask if the bar-code was still readable enough? I knew customer service lady. She said, “I'll see if I can, Joe.” She took the scanning device and I heard a beep. The “beep” is the sound the machine makes when it has received a valid code. Then the machine printed the results. She tore it off, turned around, smiled. I said, “did I win two bucks?" She said, "let's go down to the other counter and I'll pay you. Ah, you did better than two dollars," but, she didn't tell me how much. She just kept smiling. I said to the lady behind me, “its $5!” Nothing, could have been further from the truth. The customer's service lady says, “its a good thing you brought it in,” and she started laying down multiple $20 bills. I lost count after five. That ticket was worth $140. I almost fell over. Thomas had delivered to me the rent money I needed and $40 extra. I had to go sit down I was so overwhelmed.
It brought me to tears.
And, I found it stuck on a bush...
Thomas is with me every day. What a grand human being he is and was... I love you, Thomas.
_________________________
This writing piece is in memory of
Thomas Robert Prints (1947 - 2007)
friend, Oregon resident, American scientist
_________________________
Television was invented by Utah boy, 14 (1921):
http://www.farnovision.com
Make Money Writing $$$:
http://www.xomba.com/referral/7777ea2e
BREATHE!
Submitted by - Karma |
- keno |
- Oregon |
- Religion & Beliefs |
- scratch ticket |
- Thomas Prints |
Related Articles
- Login or register to post comments |
- 2614 reads |
- Email this page |
- Printer-friendly version |
- Joseph E Howard's Xombytes |
What A Nice Story
That's really cool....it's amazing the strange things that happen in life. And some people believe there's nothing after this....obviously he's looking out for you!
Great Story
Always believed in Karma.
I believe...
You must be capable to look inside to recognize such events!:-)
Loved that
I have to admit, a story like that can warm even this often cynical person's heart. Well done.
↑ Grab this Headline Animator
Join Xomba
I stop every night where I found the $140 lottery ticket....
I know this will be a story I will remember till my last breath and, I, believe beyond....Every night when I walk home from work (at 1130pm) I stop, just, for a moment, at the ticket's found location, to honor my friend Thomas, and in the hopes I can see him, if just for a moment....gosh, his memory crosses my thought pattern at the most odd times, and when that happens, I try to be humble in the hopes I can feel him, or hear him, or, hope, he can speak to me...what a grand person he was, and I know is...I miss him, so, very much...
_________________________
It does matter what you believe, but, what you believe does not matter if you do not act upon your beliefs.
you can not vote on the truth
--Pope John Paul II, 1995
Yep, that was Thomas tapping you on the shoulder..
telling you to turn around and go get that ticket. He knew it was a winner! Great story and well told!
I know it was a story of friendship and not really the lottery, but...
I used to have a lucky clerk at the local 7-11. it never failed, almost every time he sold me tickets I won! It was uncanny..even the other employees noticed and one day when I stopped in the manager told me that he had just left and asked if I wanted her to give hime a call.."he's probably just at the corner, I'm sure he'll come back." she said. I laughed, it probably wouldn't work if it was forced. i even gave him a cut once when I won a total of about $600 on several pick-3 and some other pick-5 and lotto slips he sold me that week! If I remember correctly, It was $580 or $590 and I gave him the $80 or $90..A year later after I got back from my last tour in Iraq, he wasn't working there any more.
FREE Webmaster Resources - FREE Cell Phones with Great Plans
VERY heartwarming story!
I totally believe it! Have had similar experience :) Good ole' Thomas, I am sure somehow, someday he will send you a message :) Thanks for taking the time to share with us all.
“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand — and melting like a snowflake.” -Marie Beyon Ray
Get your avatar here:
http://ladykenai.funurl.com
Great story!
It's true about putting forth good deeds and have them come back to you. May Thomas rest in peace...
Mia NW
Please visit my recent posts at:
http://www.xomba.com/user/mia_northwest
Get paid to be a xombie! Join us here at: http://www.xomba.com/referral/77793fec
Thanks!
bigpink, I thought about your story just yesterday
I was out for a bike ride, when I saw a lottery ticket in the middle of a country road. Remembering your Xombyte, I decided to swing back and pick it up. It wasn't a winner, but it made me feel good to recall your story about a friend whom you loved very much.
Your story spoke to me in a personal way, and made me realize I'm not quite as cynical and hardened as I imagined.
↑ Grab this Headline Animator
Join Xomba
We never know if its a winner, unless we pick it up and go see!
And, from here on out I'll be picking up one whenever I see one.
And, even if its not a winner, at least for our beautiful planet, we'll be removing another piece of discard from its surface.
And, in a small way, we can remember those who were close to us, if just for a second, when we pick one up, and go check it.
Thomas' great hope was to help other people smile more, and in this silly-way, the lottery ticket, he is helping others smile more.
And, when we find one, just checking it, changes the course we were on in our daily travels.
I truly enjoyed your post -- thank you!
___________________
It does matter what you believe, but, what you believe does not matter if you do not act upon your beliefs.
you can not vote on the truth
--Pope John Paul II, 1995
Funny thing is
Years ago, I used to pick up lottery tickets on the street all the time. Haven't done that for years, though.
I smiled when I picked it up, to be sure. It gave a lift to my day.
↑ Grab this Headline Animator
Join Xomba
How many tickets are on the road?
I've never seen lottery tickets on the road...:-)
Of course, I mean in Europe!
I've found other things...
I'm always amazed, Antonella
There are some real slobs around here, who just toss their trash down wherever they are.
Parking lots is where I usually find them. The one yesterday was probably tossed out a window.
↑ Grab this Headline Animator
Join Xomba
Great story
and congrats for the front page. I had already cast my vote on this post. Very moving story. Loved it. Friends do live on in our memories in more ways than one...
Front Page? Gosh, Rawnak, I didn't know...
Gosh, Rawnak, had you not mentioned it I would have never known.
For, me, what's sad is I never realized how much of a good friend Thomas was till after his passing. He use to tell me, on occasion, and he'd start to cry, and say, "I miss you even now," and I put my arm around him and tell him everything would be ok, but, in all honesty, never acknowledged his friendship much.
So, being this story made it to the front page, I have only one person to thank, and Thomas is the reason this story happened at all.
"Thank you, Thomas, and, finally, your kindness has made it to a front page for the world to see! I will always miss you."
___________________
It does matter what you believe, but, what you believe does not matter if you do not act upon your beliefs.
you can not vote on the truth
--Pope John Paul II, 1995
gold karma
Cool story. Speaking of trees, I once found 10 gold coins in an old jar under a tree on the property my husband and I were renting. Who buried them there and why remains a mystery, but I took it as a very good omen. We eventually bought the place after a lifetime of being diehard renters because we felt like we were meant to live here.
Touchin note this...
Lokesh
it was a very interetin and touching one....
thnx 4 sharin...
That was beautiful!
Seriously, sincerely, beautiful! Thank you for sharing that with us!
If you'll excuse me, I think I need a tissue...
Losing Weight and Feeling Great!
A Day in the Life of a Pagan Parent
The Funtabulous Stuff of the 80's
Tips and Ideas to Help You Save Money
Some things are just meant to happen!
Even as I am about to complete my 57th revolution around the sun, and my Mom has been gone a long time, I can't help, but, continue to remember something she always truly believed in, and it was, as she said, "some things are just meant to happen."
The property you finally bought was meant to happen. What a great find, but, more, look at what became your home!
Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the summer...
__________________
It does matter what you believe, but, what you believe does not matter if you do not act upon your beliefs.
you can not vote on the truth
--Pope John Paul II, 1995
Excuse me,
I just have something in my eye.
Usually I do tend to have an attitude of disbelief when reading stories like this but I've also heard enough of the true ones from family members to still be a believer.
But excuse me, you've just reminded me of a story I have to write.
Subscribe to XHellcatX's Xombytes
Good comes from good,
Alethea
Good always comes from good...
What a touching story... I had more than a tear in my eye when I read the story.. thank you for sharing that..
Alethea
In one way or another Thomas influences my day everyday...
It's the weirdest-of-things, I can be standing on a street corner, or washing my face, or helping someone, and out-of-the blue he comes into my thoughts.
I try to visit this piece on a regular basis because, in a way, its his memorial, and the kind comments left by folks are truly thoughts worth cherishing.
And, of all the pieces I've written it scores the highest of all my ratings, and I hope it lives long on the Internet for others to enjoy.
Thank you for taking the time to read and spend time with Thomas.
And, if Thomas were able, he'd want everyone to know, that there are more of those orphaned tickets, still, rolling around out there, some place..., so, it never hurts to look.
___________________
This writing piece is in memory of
Thomas Robert Prints (1947 - 2007)
friend, Oregon resident, American scientist
___________________
It does matter what you believe, but, what you believe does not matter if you do not act upon your beliefs.
you can not vote on the truth
--Pope John Paul II, 1995
Life Is Too Short
A perfect example of "take time to stop and smell the roses". Life is too short to spend our days numb to what is going on around us. Thomas sounds like a very wise man and awesome friend to ensure that you saw that too. He left you the gift to find the good in all the rubble so you could pass it on to others. I have no doubt that he is your Guardian Angel watching out for you and guiding you through each day.
Please excuse me as, I too, need to grab my box of tissues.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Earn for Your Writing on Xomba
Earn for Your Writing on Bukisa
Check Out My Writing on Bukisa
Beautiful...
Your story has brought tears to my eyes and given me a lump in my throat.
"Karma always comes back to you, but, sometimes people miss it. They miss it because they're too busy, or just plain don't realize it sits right in front of them."
I'll make sure I never miss it. Thank you. RIP Thomas.
Thank you for visiting Thomas' memorial on the Internet
Thank you so very much for taking a few moments to give to Thomas, and post a caring comment. Even after all this time I still have difficulties with his loss.
Peace.
"It does matter what you believe, but, what you believe does not matter if you do not act upon your beliefs."
"you can not vote on the truth"
--Pope John Paul II, 1995