when the wait is worth it

I need a few things for dinner.  I throw about $60 and my glasses into an unzipped purse and leave my house.  I am half way up the block when I see the traffic light blinking 18 seconds.  Because I am so very busy and can’t afford to wait an extra minute or so for the next light, I start to jog.

Mid way on the crosswalk I hear someone yelling, “Miss. Miss.”  I assume no one is calling me as I am typically more ma’am, ma’am.    But then a driver of a very big truck yells to me from his big cab, “Someone is calling you.”  I am now across the street, the light has changed, and I see an attractive young girl waving money at me.  Wow.  My money must have flown out of my purse when I was crossing the street.  We smile at each other and make hand motions — she indicating she’s happy to wait, and me indicating thank you, I will cross as soon as I can.

The light finally changes to red, and we meet midway.  She hands me money and I express my gratitude.

I buy a few things and go to pay.  I only have $11, but I know I left the house with more; the rest of the money must have flown into less moral hands.

I get home and realize my glasses are gone too.  I have no good backups.  I retrace my steps, even looking for broken pieces of glass on the street.  I find neither my glasses nor any remnants of them.

My little grocery trip for some vegetables ends up being quite expensive.  Had I only waited for the light, I could have saved over $200.  And really, why was I rushing in the first place?  Habit, I guess.  It’s New York, that’s what people  do here.