"To be doing good deeds is man's most glorious task" - Sophocles

I woke up this morning and found this at my door.

It is a Thank You gift from the daughter of a woman named Roberta whom I met yesterday.

Roberta and I met under unusual circumstances: 

I was sitting on the front steps of my house in Brooklyn NY last night while smoking a cigar. At one point I watched an elderly woman who kept walking repeatedly up and down our block. It was cold out and she wasn’t wearing a coat. While it seemed strange to me, I was hesitant to engage her to see if she needed help. I am a lifelong New Yorker and Brooklynite, which over time, instilled in me a healthy dose of skepticism and caution. And with the recent spike in crime in the city, most people are being extra vigilant.

But I couldn’t ignore the feeling that something wasn’t right, and that this woman may need help. So I approached her and asked her if she was lost. She looked at me and said “My name is Roberta.” After a few moments it was clear to me that Roberta was disoriented and likely suffered from some sort of condition that causes memory loss. She wasn’t able to tell me the names of her family members, her last name or phone number or address. Having experienced two of my Grandparents suffer from Alzheimers and dementia, I knew that the best thing that I could do was try and make Roberta feel safe and relaxed.

I asked Roberta if she would like to come into my house while we sorted things out. She nodded yes and took my hand. While climbing the stairs she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said “Thank you, you're a good soul.” That made me emotional and I almost cried as well.

Roberta sat on the couch in my living room. I brought her some water and asked her if she wanted something to eat, but she refused. I called the police to tell them the story and see if anyone had filed a missing person’s report matching Roberta’s description. The response came back negative, but the operator said that they would send over a couple of police officers to resolve the situation.

In the meantime I was talking with Roberta, trying to unearth any information that may help locate a relative. She was pleasant to speak with, but was clearly sad and fearful. At some point she gave me an address. I quickly looked it up on the internet, and the address matched that of a local Deli. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I called the number listed. A gentleman picked up the phone, and I quickly told him my story. Then he responded “Ah yes, Mrs. Roberta. We know her. She lives in an apartment upstairs with her daughter. I will call her daughter and have her call you.”

Soon after I hung up the police arrived and Roberta’s daughter called me. Her name was Dena, and she told me that Roberta suffers from Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Dena herself is disabled and is relegated to a wheelchair. Apparently Roberta had left Dena’s apartment without her knowledge, and had walked over two miles to my neighborhood.

The police drove Roberta home, and Dena called me later that night to thank me.

And this morning I received a Thank You package that is pictured in my post above. While I am saddened about Roberta’s condition, I felt a tremendous sense of fulfillment and gratitude. I helped someone and made a difference.

I am sharing this story to remind everyone that while we are all busy with work, obligations and concerns - that doing a “Mitzvah” (the Jewish word for a good deed) goes a long way and it usually is extremely rewarding. Have a wonderful day!