Thank you, Chipotle!

I can't believe how many people responded to my 'lost cell phone' story. Not just in my blog, but via facebook and twitter. I guess losing memories touched a nerve. Though as some of you pointed out, I didn't lose my actual memories of those events, just reminders of them. Here is the follow up to that story...

As I mentioned in my Open Letter to whomever took my Cell Phone, I had called Chipotle last Saturday evening to see if my phone had been turned in. They said it hadn't.

And when I got home, I posted an entry in the Craig's List Lost and Found:

But I heard nothing.

On Monday morning, I called Verizon to ask them if there was an entry on my account that the phone had been turned in at a store. It had not. Since I didn't want to buy a new phone, I just reactivated my previous cell phone and had accepted that I would never see my lost cell phone again.

On Tuesday night, I popped into Chipotle because it's next door to my Weight Watchers meeting (cruel, no?). I mentioned what happened and asked them if it had turned up. The one guy I spoke to was the same guy who made my burrito on Saturday. He said he wasn't sure and asked me to leave my name and number, along with the cell phone model. I knew it was a long shot but thought it was nice of him to get my contact info just in case.

On Thursday morning, I noticed I had a voice mail, but hadn't seen that I missed a call. That usually happens if someone calls when I'm in the subway, so this call likely came in on my way home Wednesday night. I almost didn't check it because I hate listening to voice mail. Usually they are from my Dad. And I have a tendency to let my mailbox get full before I check it. But on Thursday I decided to go ahead and check it anyway.

Imagine my shock when I heard this!

"Good afternoon Mrs Sheryl. This is Josue from Chipotle Park Avenue. I am calling you because we got your Verizon phone ready. You can come and pick up as soon as you hear this message or a better time. Have a great day and see you later."

I could not even believe it! Could it really be mine??

I had to wait till they opened to call them back. The guy I spoke with said they did have a cell phone there. I asked him if it had a white rubbery case around it. He said yes. This was a great sign!

That night when I got to Grand Central, I took the 6 Train one stop and ran into Chipotle. Sure enough, I saw the same guy again. He knew why I was there. He disappeared into the back and emerged WITH MY CELL PHONE!!! I couldn't even believe it! It was really *mine*! (I had even called Verizon that morning to ask them for my serial number so I could prove it was mine if I had to. They didn't ask for proof...)

I wanted to get the whole story from him but he didn't speak English very well. I tried to give him twenty dollars, but he wouldn't take it. So I told him I was putting it in the tip jar, but burying it under the one dollar bills because I didn't want any customers to take it. Then I think I scared him when I threw out my arms and hugged him. I just couldn't believe I had my phone back. I never thought I'd see it again! Of course the battery was dead, so I couldn't turn it on to check if my texts and pictures were still on it, but I was so happy to have it back. I left the store with a huge smile on my face and headed home.

Here, on the 7 Train, my phone rests comfortably while it catches up on what the Jersey Shore kids have been up to:

When I got home and plugged it into the charger, I turned it on. Everything was still there! My contacts, my text messages and my pictures! How was this possible? How could this have such a happy ending? I never expected it but I was thrilled. I guess it goes to show there are other good, honest people out there. And that's nice to realize from time to time.

Thank you, Chipotle on Park Ave. You guys are the BEST!!!