The Tattered Old Address Book

Did you ever have one of those days – an unexpected, out of the blue, life altering day that would change your life forever? I did, almost ten years ago to this day. It was a day that will be etched in my heart, soul and memory for the rest of my life.

It didn’t start out on the most positive note, though. In fact, it began with what felt like a kick in the gut, a total shock and disappointing turn of events. The day itself was dismal and rainy, typical for March and very appropriate for what was about to happen.

As usual, that morning I took the nearest subway from my small, Manhattan apartment to my job on Madison Avenue. I worked as an Associate Creative Director in an advertising firm but apparently, I wasn’t creative enough as they let me go almost as soon as I arrived. I was called into HR with my manager who had a hard time even looking me in the eyes. I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing. I thought things were going well for the year I had worked there. It certainly wasn’t my passion or dream job, but I felt as though I was at least keeping my head above water.

Now, all I could think of was – what next? Do I give up and move back home to Connecticut or do I look for another job here in the city? I thought how my parents would be disappointed and sad for me especially since what I was fired for was exactly what I studied so hard for in college.

I packed up the few personal items I had in my cube, said goodbye to the small group of friends I had made in the company, and walked out the door for the last time trying to hold back my tears. I felt like a failure and completely defeated. It was raining even harder as I hit the sidewalk and ran for the subway.

As I started down the wet cement steps, I tripped on something laying in the middle of one of the stairs. I caught my balance and glanced down to see and old, tattered small black book. To this day I don't know why I picked it up, but I did. The little book was barely held together, the binding was weak and the pages were loose. It was an old address book almost every page filled with handwritten entries from A-Z, addresses and phone numbers that most likely meant a lot to whoever dropped it.

I wasn't in the best of spirits but I knew I couldn't just leave this book here on the subway steps. I noticed on the inside cover a note - This book belongs to Marion Milhouse, with her address and phone number written in. She lived in Brooklyn so I decided to call her and let her know I had her book.

The voice on the other end of the phone was frail and sounded elderly, but when I explained I had found her book she sounded exhilarated and grateful. She told me she had no idea what happened to it and figured she dropped it somewhere, but did not know where. She must have thanked me 10 times for calling her.

I offered to package it up and send to her but then I thought, I'm not working and I don't have anything to do today, so I might as well just go to Brooklyn and drop it off for her. She was so grateful and kept repeating I didn't have to do that, but for some reason I did want to do that for her. My day was already a lost cause, so why not make someone else's day better?

Forty-five minutes later I arrived at her Brooklyn apartment. She opened the door with a huge smile on her face. "You must be Dana she said. I'm Marian, it's wonderful to meet you, please come in!" I stepped into her apartment and looked around at her many displayed trinkets that reminded me of my grandmother.

I held out the book to her and she told me she would have been absolutely lost without it because all of her contacts were in there and she had no copy. "You are so kind to come all the way to Brooklyn just to drop this off for me", she said warmly.

"Oh, I don't mind. Today has not been a good day for me so being able to help someone else out feels good."

"What happened, dear?" Marian asked. At that point it all just came to a head, all of my emotions from losing my job came flooding out and I started to cry. "Sit down, sit down, Marian said. Tell me what's going on."

I sat down on her couch and proceeded to open up my heart to her, someone I just met 5 minutes ago. I told her how I lost my job today and I didn't know what I was going to do. I was afraid I was going to be as much of a disappointment to my parents, as I was to myself.

She assured me that my parents would still love me and that life is a series of disappointments and changes, but it's how we react to those changes that counts. I told her it wasn't just losing my job; I was sad because I was failing in a career that I just could not seem to find the right fit in.

She asked me if I could pick anything in the world that I would like to do for a career, what would it be? "That's easy" I said. "I would love to own my own bakery. I love to bake and I can't think of anything that would make me happier, but it's just a dream as I don't have the means to even consider it."

Marian replied with a wink, "Remember, a dream is a wish your heart makes and you should always follow your heart."

"I know, that's true...maybe someday. Well, I've taken up enough of your time, I said. I better be on my way back to the city."

Marian got up from her seat and handed me the book I just returned to her, and with a big smile she said, "Please add your name and address. I will want to send you a Christmas card." I chuckled and did what she asked. I gave her a big hug, thanked her for listening to me and was on my way.

I spent the next month or so looking for a new job in Manhattan. I finally found one as a Copywriter in another advertising firm, a step down from what I was doing but at least it was a job. Life went on and I was settling into my new job, making some new friends and feeling as though New York City was home.

One evening six months later I received a knock on my door. "Who is it?", I asked. I was still leery of unexpected knocks on my door living alone in NYC.

"My name is Robert Lawson and I am an estate attorney for Marian Milhouse. Do you know her?"

It took me by surprise as I hadn't thought of Marian in a while. "Yes, I met her briefly one day when I returned her address book."

"May I come in? Marian passed away last month and she has something for you."

This had to be legit, I thought, as how would he know I had met Marian? I opened the door hesitantly. "Come in, what is this all about?"

"Marian has left you something, but there are strict instructions in her will that you must come with me so that I may show it to you. I know it sounds unusual, but Marian only had the best of intentions here and you do not have anything to fear. I would like to ask you to come downstairs with me, and my driver will take us to Brooklyn."

I was confused and a little nervous, but I felt this man was sincere so I got my things together and went downstairs with him and stepped into his driver driven limousine. "I know you are shocked and leery of all this, he said. But I know you will be happy once we arrive", and he smiled.

When we arrived in Brooklyn we drove through a quaint little neighborhood with several cafes and shops, and couples and families strolling around. All I could think of was that it looked like a happy place to be. The car pulled up and parked in front of several sidewalk shops. The attorney got out, and opened up my door. "Well look around he said, what do you think?"

I wasn't sure what he meant, but I looked around and all of a sudden, my eyes shot up to a marquis on the top of a storefront that said DANA'S DREAM BAKERY. Confused beyond words I asked "What is this?"

"This is yours, the attorney said. Marian purchased this storefront for you before she passed. She wanted to help make your dream of owning your own bakery come true. I have the deed here in your name, and all you have to do is sign and it's yours."

"I can't accept this, I said. This is too much, way too much. I can't believe this whole thing. Why, me, why is she giving me this?"

"You probably don't know this, the attorney said, but Marian was extremely wealthy even though she lived a very modest life. She actually has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to many different charities all over the city. She didn't have much family left, but she told me that even though you only met briefly you touched her heart and she wanted to do this for you. I think you should accept it. It was Marian's wish. Why don't you come inside with me and I'll show you around?"

We walked into the store under the sign of Dana's Dream Bakery. "This was once a restaurant the attorney said, so there's already a kitchen in the back. You might want to do some painting and make it your own, but pretty much everything you'll need is here. Take a look around, I have to make a call and then we can sign the paperwork and I'll take you home."

I walked around the space in awe looking at the scattered tables and chairs and the long counter in front of the kitchen. I felt like I was dreaming and I had to pinch myself. I walked closer to the counter and saw a little tattered black book sitting there.

"What? I thought. Could this be the same book I returned to Marian?" Inside the book was a piece of paper sticking out of both ends. I picked it up and saw that it was a check for $20,000 made out to me. "Oh my gosh, what is this for?"

I noticed that all of the pages of the address book had been pulled out with only one page remaining with a note to me: "Dear Dana, I hope you are happy with your new bakery. I know it will be a huge success and I hope it brings you the happiness you deserve. Please take this $20,000 check to help you get started. Best of luck and always follow your dreams. Love, Marian”

Ten years later and I am still the proud owner of Dana’s Dream Bakery. Two years after we opened I met my husband, an NYC firefighter, who was a customer, and we now have a beautiful daughter. Every day when I walk into the bakery I think of Marian and how serendipitously her tattered old address book, and her kind generosity changed my life forever.