The Cash Donation

In late 1999, I was very short of money. My partner had lost his job. Debts were building up. We had to leave our home and try to find jobs in a new town.

One afternoon I was out walking, because I had no cash to buy petrol. My car was about to run out of registration, and I was thinking about how badly I needed the $470 to pay for that. I needed that car on the road so I could look for work. I was a qualified remedial massage therapist at the time.

I had not talked to anybody about my lack of funds, as I felt embarrassed. Nobody owed me a cent.

I had no income, and I knew very well my bank account was almost empty. We had paper bankbooks back then, and I had a balance of less than three dollars in there. Still, I thought, I will withdraw that and buy a loaf of bread.

I went into the bank, and the teller took my bankbook to record the transaction. I had withdrawn the three dollars and the new balance was…$470. I was magically shocked and delighted. I asked the teller who had deposited that, and she could find no name.

I registered my car, and life took an upturn. I have never found an explanation for this serendipitous event.