So, I thought I would provide everyone with some follow up on that mystery cash I received in the mail.
Internet searches didn’t turn up much. “concocorp.com” is an anonymously registered Go Daddy domain. It seems this random act has happened once before: I tweeted with a woman who received the exact same letter (and money) in 2009.
I emailed “Tom Riddle” and received a response:
Dear Miss Lemieux:
Your grant was the result of a request from an individual.
Thank you for your inquiry and if I can be of any further assistance please let me know.
Sincerely,
Tom
I wrote back, thanked “Tom” and pressed “him” one more time on the origin of the money. Hey, you can’t blame me, can you?
Dear Miss Lemieux:
I’m afraid we are not at liberty to disclose your benefactor. Hopefully it is enough to know that someone somewhere thought of you and wanted to make you feel special, even for just a day.
If I can be of any further service please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thanks,
Tom
And yes, I have decided that knowing someone out there was thinking of me is enough. The most interesting part of this whole mystery has been the interest of others. I have received messages and texts and emails and tweets. People are fascinated. Some folks are embracing it, many find it creepy or weird, and a large amount of people seem to think there is some kind of catch. I doubt I will ever know where this came from, but I believe there is a lesson here: randomly good things, pure in intention, can happen.
How am I going to spend the money? I don’t know. Some of it is going to be paid forward in some way. I may, in fact, use some of it towards frivolity as requested by Mr. Riddle. At this point, it really isn’t about the money. It is about this really neat thing that happened to me once that I will never forget. It has been pretty great.
I’ve loved following this story
Olga @ MangoTomato´s last [type] ..Eight Days of Hanukkah Giveaway: Day 8. Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes & a Recipe for Spicy Tomato & Roasted Pepper Soup
i hope that this doesn’t end up with you in the middle of some whacky crime conspiracy
I totally understand how people could find it a bit creepy, but I’m on the side of it being fantastic. I’m glad to see you’re embracing it! Should a story come from the way you spend it, I look forward to hearing that too.
Katherine´s last [type] ..I want to never have to leave my house or wear pants.
Awesome. I *love* the idea…
Also, personally the creepiness is only in the lack of other communications. for me at least, the fact that Tom wrote you back removes any creepiness. I’m not sure exactly why, since the content of the reply doesn’t really explain much, but the fact that it exists does remove it.
It’s been awesome following along with this. I get the creepiness factor but I’m glad you decided to focus more on the kindness.
You totally deserve it.
I just read the first post. Wow! This is so incredibly cool - & yes, maybe a little creepy, but let’s stick with how great it is to receive a surprise $100.
Kate @ GreatestEscapist.com´s last [type] ..No (Wo)man is an Island
Here’s another person who got a letter…Meghan Blalock @megbeebee
K. I just got a letter in the mail that had a $50 bill enclosed. From the Conco Corp Foundation, signed by a guy named Tom Riddle.
I am wondering if you or any of your followers picked up on this, but…Tom Riddle is Voldemort!!!
So…i am glad you are enjoying the cash, just watch out for any serpents.