On the Wanted List in a Times Personals Ad

My name in The Times personals classified section (June 5) gave me quite a start. And, quite a finish, too--$7,300 to be exact!

I really never read the classifieds but my friend Jackie Markonich in Glendale saw it and called me. She got my undivided attention with the words, “have been trying to locate you and desire to repay an old debt.” In this day and age could somebody actually make an effort to repay an old debt? Or, was someone looking for me to even an old score!

When I got my own Times, though, and read the other names the picture came into focus. Many years ago three others and I had guaranteed a bank loan to a struggling little venture company. One day the bank called the loan and unfortunately three of us had to pay off our friend’s portion.

Happily, his financial picture has brightened over the years and now he is paying everyone back--with interest, which almost tripled the original amount. We had a nice talk on the phone and I have now received his $7,300 check, which I have deposited to my favorite charity. I told him I had always thought of him as a nice person, but this experience was simply overwhelming. He said oh, no, just a part of life.

He asked me to help locate one of the other man listed in he ad, Jay Corley, so he could likewise repay him. I’ve lost track of Jay. He probably doesn’t read the “personals” either. I think he moved to Napa valley and bought a vineyard. Anyway, he’s on our “wanted” list.

And me? I’m reading the personals every day.

GORDON VAN der BOOM

La Quinta