The Donation Jar Dilemma

Before the swimming season ended, our team held a informal barbecue dinner where each family donated $10. I entered the team's kitchen area to contribute my share, spied a jar labelled "Donations" and told the mother in charge of food that I was donating my money. Waving a $20 bill, I was just about to put it in the jar and take out $10 in change ... when she turned around to answer a question in the kitchen.


I paused awkwardly, not sure what to do. I couldn't leave all $20 in jar, but I also didn't want to rummage for change and look like I was stealing from the jar. Glancing around self-consciously, I cleared my throat and asked, "Uh, I have this $20 bill. Can I get change from the jar?" The food mom turned around briefly and smiled, "Sure." Then I repeated for good measure to everyone within earshot, "I'm putting in $20" so I'd feel less foolish/look less guilty fishing $10 out of the jar.


Then I realized that I was having a Seinfeld moment -- like George at the pizza store in "The Calzone" episode. Just when George puts cash into a tip jar, the cashier looks away to answer a question in the kitchen. Of course George then tries to grab it back but the cashier turns around, thinks that George is stealing from the jar, and then chases him from the pizza store waving a huge metal pizza spatula. 


These incidents bring up the familiar philosophical question of "When a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Well, if a person puts money into a donation/tip jar when no one is looking, does it count? I think so but obviously George didn't. Bon appetite!