Have you ever had anything stolen that you wished you could have back because it was just that irreplaceable for you?

In today’s story, we will meet a very sweet senior citizen whose 2009 Craftsman riding mower was stolen during the quarantine, affecting his “life” in a negative way.

Meet the 85-year-old Gordon Blakeslee from Harpursville, New York. Gordon had decided to move in with his son and his family as soon as the quarantine started because they didn’t want to leave him on his own during those difficult times.

However, once he was allowed to travel again, he decided to go back to his own home. Once he arrived, he came to the realization that someone had stolen his favorite lawnmower!

Gordon was devastated. Due to his age, this type of lawnmower was the only one that he could use easily to tend to his garden. The yard would need a “grooming” soon and he didn’t want to ask his son or anyone else for help.

“A lot of people, my son is one of them, they cut it too short,” he told WBNG.

So, what does this incredible old man do? He took a piece of cardboard and wrote, “Bring back my mower. I am 85 years old! I can’t push”.

Then, he put his makeshift sign at his front yard, hoping that whoever chose to take it, would eventually be moved and decide to return it.

As Gordon confessed, “I used to work out here, when my wife was alive, I used to work out there all day long.”

As his daughter-in-law, Candace Blakeslee, explained, “that was something that was precious to him, everything that he has, has value to him”.

With the help of Candance, they decided to put a notice on Facebook and raise awareness about what had happened. They really weren’t looking for any donations or funding, they just wanted Gordon’s lawnmower back!

The Facebook post was saying, “While providing care in our home for my father-in-law, someone took his beloved lawnmower. The sweet man insisted on making his own sign in hopes that someone does the right thing.”

The story was even picked up by the local news, and many people became interested in what had happened.

However, as it was later proven one person was especially moved by Gordon’s story. Only 5 days after Gordon had originally put his cardboard sign, on the 5th of August, Gordon woke up to find a surprise waiting for him at his front yard.

A shiny new lawnmower was waiting for him!

An anonymous donor decided to gift Gordon a new and much-improved version of his old lawnmower and asked the Broome County Sheriff’s Office to deliver the present.

As Gordon’s grandson said, “I couldn’t be any more thankful. With everything going on, I know he’s happier than happy to have a mower back”.

Gordon couldn’t believe in his eyes when he first saw the lawnmower, he was really surprised by the stranger’s generosity.

“Thank you, what else can I say. I really appreciate it,” he said. “It’s got some new upgrades to it; that’s a lot better than my old one.”

It’s really beautiful to see how a simple message on a cardboard sign reached the ears of a Good Samaritan who with his kindness was able to make an old man happy again! Let’s finish this story in Gordon’s own words, “There are still some good people out there”.

If you would like to see the whole News report, check out the video below.

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Source: My Positive Outlooks, Candace Blakeslee