Atlantic City Weekly

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Last week I parked in a casino garage and upon exiting my car, I heard a cell phone ring an unfamiliar tone.

Thinking that I was the only one on that parking level, I looked around — but still didn’t see anyone. The cell phone was still ringing.

I took a few steps away from my car and saw that there was a cell phone on the ground near someone else’s car. I am always very aware of my surroundings and I like to think that I am always cautious in these types of situations.

Even though I didn’t see anyone around, I was still very hesitant to pick up this foreign phone. My first concern was that it was someone’s phone and they were probably devastated, and if I didn’t pick it up and try to return it to its rightful owner, then someone else may have stolen it.

My other concern was that this phone could be a bomb or something. My paranoia kicked in, and I started to think about how coincidental that the phone started ringing the moment I stepped out of the car. It reminded me of that e-mail chain that has been going around about not answering the door to your house if you hear a baby crying on the front step. It has apparently been used as a ploy by thieves to get you to unlock your door.

Although many thoughts were going through my head, I decided to trust my first instinct and go with the idea that it would definitely be safe to pick up the cell phone and return it to its owner.

Long story short: that is exactly what happened.

The owner wound up calling the phone, I answered and we met up inside the casino. It turned out to be a casino employee’s phone and she was very grateful and thankful. I felt validated that I did the right thing and everything turned out just fine.

But soon I started thinking, “Isn’t it horrible that in today’s world we have to worry that if we lose something of value that it may be stolen and never returned? Or, even worse, that maybe a phone on the ground is not a phone, but something else, like a bomb? Sometimes it’s scary, the world we live in. Just try to remember to do the right thing in such cases and think of your safety first and kindness next.

Whitney’s Radar

All too often we forget the small things in life. How small gestures can make a big difference in someone else’s life. Telling someone how you feel about them or giving a meaningful gift. I’ve always felt that it’s important to express gratitude or thanks.

Today, we can call or send an e-mail, sure, but how great would it be to give someone a personalized card that shows you really put thought into what you are saying?

In our busy lives “extra time” doesn’t always exist — time to go out to the store, pick out a card and fill it out (and make sure to mail it!). It seems like small potatoes, but just the inconvenience of something like sending a card could discourage someone from even starting the process.

That is why I am so glad that a good friend of mine, Joy Brown of Northfield, has a wonderful business called boostyourreferrals.com. I think that this is so smart!

You can send someone a personalized card via the Internet, customized with any of your own pictures, and Brown does the rest. As she likes to say, “I can send someone a card at midnight in my pajamas.” The best part is, you can even use a custom font that is created from your own handwriting!

Another great feature of Brown’s business is that you can postdate a card. So, I could start my list of holiday cards now and decide which day I would like them mailed. The convenience factor is worth every penny. Boostyourreferrals.com even has gifts (books and candies and stuff) that you can send along with your personalized card. How cool is it to send a physical card to someone with your own handwriting all done via the Internet? And how good will you feel for finally getting that card out to somebody you’ve been meaning to send one to? It’s a win win! Gotta love technology! For more information, shoot me a e-mail.