Dearest Fellow People Watcher

This past Tuesday started like any other day since I lost my job due to cutbacks and downsizing. I would wake up at 10 AM, eat a light breakfast, get ready for a job interview late in the afternoon, and take the bus home to prepare for the next day. The interesting part is that there’s no shortage of interviews, but there is a shortage of needing to hire someone like me. The interview that I had just left, would have been my thirty-sixth interview in almost five weeks, which would mean that I averaged about one interview per day. I can always make it through the phone interview. However, once I do the second interview, which is face to face, I seem to be not able to seal the deal.

As I took the bus home, because I could no longer afford my car insurance, I began to think that going to college for a degree was a mistake. If this continues, I’m going to have to take up the offer as a waitress at the local diner that I frequent, which I don’t mind; but I hate the idea that my knowledge and skills aren’t being used to their fullest potential. At least, I got to watch people on the bus for forty five minutes, which is always interesting. It’s fun to guess where everyone is going. I imagine the guy across the seat from me is either on a way to a date or loves the smell of his cologne. I’m glad that I’m almost sitting upwind from him, but I could still smell a hint of musk whenever the bus made certain turns. I continued to scan the bus and noticed an adorable elderly lady switching seats to sit beside me. I move over to make room for her.

“Thank you, darling,” she said as she sat right beside me. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but that young man’s cologne was very strong from where I was sitting. I felt like I was in the perfume department of a retail store. I thought I was going to die from the aroma,” she gently takes off her grey tweed bucket hat while turning to look at me with a smile. “Not a problem. I’m glad the smell is not as strong over here,” I replied and smiled back. “Not to be so forward, but why are you so fancily dressed up? Hot date?” she asked as she surveyed my outfit. “No, not a hot date. Just finished a job interview,” I depressingly answered as I realize my outfit may have been too revealing for the job interview, particularly with the satin tank top under the black blazer. “Oh, how lovely! What do you do?” she inquired she stuffs her hat into her large black shoulder bag. “Well, I have a degree in Marketing, but I’ve been successful in the customer service industry - managing customer accounts from orders, product offerings, optimizing growth within the account, and so on,” I replied with my best elevator pitch, as I help catch a black moleskin book that accidentally falls out of her purse. “Thank you, darling,” she retrieves it from my hand. “Do you like doing that,” she asked inquisitively. I shrugged my shoulders and leaned closer to her, “To be honest, I feel like I was meant for more. Managing customer accounts and making them successful is fun, but sometimes I feel like I’m missing out on something.” She gently brushes her pointed chin as if thinking of something. “Well… I can understand that feeling. It’s almost like a void that never feels complete with your current role. I have had that feeling,” she tilts her head, as she winks at me.

We continue to make small talk during the ride until her head pops up as she notices the bus getting closer to her stop, “Well, my dear, I’ve always been a believer of carpe diem - to always make every minute worth it and optimize the minutes within a day.” she slowly gets up to get off the bus. I stare at her back and think, ‘If only it was that simple.’ As I moved closer to the middle of the seat, I noticed her black moleskin notebook was still beside me. ‘Oh no! She forgot her book!’ I jumped up only to realize that the bus had already started to move. I unfortunately couldn’t even see the direction she went after she got off the bus. I start to wonder if her contact information might be within the book as I open it, flipping through the pages.

As I flipped through the pages, I began to see various entries of writing and photos that I’m assuming she had documented into this book. I started to read some of the inserts of poetry, which I could recognize as Lord Bryon, Langston Hughes, and Shakespeare. As I continue to flip through the notebook, I notice cutouts of old magazine pictures, aged pictures, which look to have been her with friends and possibly family from about thirty to fifty years ago, and miniature sketches of cartoons. I continue to scan through the pages in hope of locating an address. Then I noticed on the last written page, there was something different on this page compared to the other entries in the journal. Most of her journal entries were about inspiration, motivation, and enlightenment. However, the last entry seemed more of a list of number sequences and riddles. I closed the book and figured I could look more into it once I get home.

When I finally made it home, I was greeted with an envelope taped to my door, EVICTION WARNING. 'How nice', I thought, as I realized that I’m going to have to start pulling money out of my 401K and personal investments to assist in paying some of the past due bills. I haven’t really built up much of a retirement plan, but at least it’s there for rainy days like these. I couldn’t help but think back on when I had a job that I should have invested or saved more money into my savings account.

I jump on my computer and start moving money over so I can work on catching up on bills that have started to pile up on my small kitchen table. Ring, ring, ring! My phone starts to ring. “Hey sister!” as I answered my phone, focusing on which bills took priority. “Hey boo! I just wanted to check up on you to see how the job interview went today,” as my older sister, Krystal inquired in her best supportive sisterly voice. “Well… I feel positive on how we left things at the end of the interview, but I always think the interview ended well, and then realize after a couple of days that it didn’t end well,” I sighed heavily as I stop focusing on the bills in front of me and think how nice it would be to be rich or own my own business. “Don’t worry too much, boo! You’ll find something,” as she works on comforting me over the phone, “Did you at least have a good day?” My mind starts to wonder as I remember the black book that the elderly lady left beside me. “I think I did. Something weird happened to me…” I get up from the table to start to look for the book that I brought home with me. “Weird - how? You weren’t in an accident or something, right,” Krystal asked, concernedly. “No - nothing weird like that. There was an elderly lady that sat beside me on the bus, and left like an inspiration, motivational…. quote book behind?” I tried to explain as I think back to what I saw while flipping through the pages of the book. “That is weird! Maybe it’s a sign?” she justifies as I’ve finally located the book inside my purse. I flip through the pages again, and go back to the last written page to start understanding the riddles she left behind. I can only hope that this will enable me to reach her and return the book to her.

After working all night deciphering the riddles, I finally realized the answers for the riddles led to an address. I start to change my clothes and head out to make the bus that stopped on that street. I was looking for 5901 9th Street. When I finally arrived on 9th Street, I noticed the building at 5901 was an adult care facility. I enter into the building and ask the receptionist if she might know who the owner of the book was as I show her the pictures that were stuck between the pages. The receptionist takes a moment to study the pictures, and then looks at me, “Yes, that looks like Daisy. She was a resident here. I remember she used to carry that notebook everywhere she went.” “Great! I would like to return this to her!” I exclaimed delightedly as I tried to hand the book to the receptionist. “I’m sorry. I guess you didn’t know… Daisy passed a week ago. She was buried yesterday, but she did leave something for you,” the receptionist turns to walk into the office behind her. I let out a tiny breath, and felt my heart racing. Wait…. I met Daisy yesterday on the bus. I clearly talked to her for a good minute. There must be a mistake. I start to shiver goosebumps as I replay the words that the receptionist told me.

The receptionist finally returns with a thick envelope and letter. “There must be a mistake,” as I tried to refuse the envelope. “No, there is no mistake. Daisy didn’t really have a family because she was too busy living. Her last request before she passed was that whomever comes in with her black journal receives the following envelope. There’s a letter inside so I imagine she wanted to tell you something,” the receptionist explained as gave me the envelope.

Still working on catching up with my thoughts and slowing my heartbeat, I return home and sit in disbelief, staring at the envelope and notebook. Was I talking to a ghost? I kept replaying yesterday in my mind from the beginning of our interaction to when she got off the bus. After staring at the envelope for hours, I remembered the receptionist mentioning a letter inside the envelope. I finally gained the courage to open the envelope to find $20,000 and a beautifully handwritten note. I begin to read:

“My dearest bus colleague and fellow people watcher,

You do not know me, but I’ve been watching you from behind the bus since you started riding. Every day I would sit during my retirement, people watching. You see all types of people on the bus and sometimes wonder where they’re going, what they’re doing, and so forth. When you first started riding the bus, you used to have this cheerful - go-get-em attitude. As time continued on, I started to notice your spark slowly fizzle. Maybe you weren’t aware of it but others are - I know I was. Then I think back on how my life was before, when I was your age, and how extremely difficult it was for me to try to break into the working world… I then remember the elderly lady who left me $5,000 which helped me start my own company. I used to call her my fairy godmother, and for you, I would like to be your fairy godmother. I have left you $20,000 to use as you see fit. Please use this money and your current opportunity of freedom to do what you’re passionate about. Don’t ever lose your sense of self to the world. I also hope my book of collective quotes and poems help provide some comfort to you when you’re feeling sad. Keep your head up - remember it could be worse.

Warmest Regards,

Daisy”