I was getting gas after work today at the overpriced station on La Jolla Village drive and I noticed something weird: a wallet laying on top of the gas pump. It was just sitting there, open and everything with the credit cards and driver's license showing. It was like one of those hidden camera shows where they leave a $100 bill on the sidewalk and film what people do when they find it. I looked around and couldn't see a camera. I wound up just staring at it while I stood there filling up.

I ended up looking inside it. The guy's license said his name was Carlos. He had a couple credit cards, a debit card, a UCSD student ID and $64 in cash. When I got done filling the tank, I grabbed the wallet and headed towards the cashier office/minimart thing to turn it in. The clerk was a liitle taken aback when I gave it to him. He opened it up first thing when I handed it over and got this incredulous look on his face when he saw cash still inside. He looked at me like I was wearing a dress or something. I contemplated making a note of Carlos' address so I could let him know how much cash and cards were in it when I turned it in, but I didn't.

I still don't know how someone could leave their wallet at a gas station. You take a wallet out, pay, and then put it back. That's how it goes; that's habit. I should have checked to see if Carlos was shorter than 5' 10", which is about how high the tops of the pumps are. Maybe Carlos set the thing up there while he filled up and forgot it because he couldn't see it up there.

Anyway, I did the right thing and hopefully Carlos won't be out any money. More karma points in the bank. If I ever forget my wallet somewhere, I'm expecting it back in one piece, with its contents intact.