I had a great day today. I was so busy that I ended up not giving away my $10 until the very last minute, literally. I got home from my theatre rehearsal at 11:35 and walked up near the Metro to see if I could find a recipient. I asked a woman who I passed on the way, but she said, “I think I am going to keep walking.”
I spotted three people who looked a little lost just outside the Metro entrance. I asked them if they needed help…they said they thought they were ok, but were a little turned around. The trio said that they were headed to the Carlyle Suites Hotel – I had no idea where that was so I wouldn’t have been much help anyway.
Since I was chatting with them and they seemed friendly, I thought I would ask them if one of them would like to participate in the Year of Giving. The two men and one woman talked internally a little and said they were up for it if I was willing to walk and talk.
The two men graciously said that their female colleague should be the recipient. Suzanna, a young sophisticated woman from Oakland, is a web graphic designer for the company where the three work. Who knows, maybe she could help me develop a better website for the Year of Giving. She also says that she is a jazz singer…although apparently for now the IT job will have to pay the bills.
I asked her how she was going to spend the money and she said that she had been thinking about that since I gave her the money. “I am going to buy a knish in NYC. How many knishes can I get for $10?” Her two colleagues determine that she can probably buy three for $10. “So, I will buy three knishes in New York. One for me, one for my friend, and one for someone on the street.” I thought that was a cool that she planned to use part of the money to do something nice for someone that she didn’t know.
Although Suzanna was weary of giving me her email address, she promised to take a photo of the Yiddish dumplings and send it to me. I hope she makes good on her promise. It would be nice to post it here.
We were getting close to their hotel and I asked her what her reaction was when I approached them with my project. Suzanna first said, “Well, I wasn’t too skeptical because you seemed normal.” Phew, someone thinks I am normal. Yes! That however quickly turned into, “Actually, I wasn’t really worried, I mean, I was pretty sure that I could take you.” What?! Do I look that meager and weak? That doesn’t bode well for how convincing I will be as a villain in the play that I am performing in.
Well, we got to the hotel and I was surprised that I didn’t know it, it is not too far from my condo. I asked them what they thought of it. Suzanna and her boss both said that it was very nice. The other gentleman seemed a bit bitter. It turns out that he got screwed on his room. (I bet he is not getting one of those knishes in NYC either!) But all in all they said it was a decent place. They quoted a price of roughly $120/night which is an excellent rate, so might be an option for those of you who travel to DC.
I shook their hands…said goodbye and was on my way home. I checked my phone and saw that the time was 12:02 am, so I made it just in time!
Let’s hope Suzzana is a woman of her word and follows up!
Year of Giving 