Note Exchange over Stolen Milwaukee Parking Spot goes Viral

A Milwaukee man is gaining national attention, after owning up to a mistake, and repaying kindness with kindness.

It all started two days before Christmas, as Will Murphy returned to his Riverwest apartment to find a friends car in his designated spot. Without much thought, he parked in a different spot, reserved by another resident. 

The next morning, he found a note on his windshield. it read: 

'Hey stranger, Because you were parked in my spot last night (and still are?!), I got a ticket for street parking overnight w/out a permit. I'm broke. These are privately owned spots, and I could have you ticketed + towed. I won't, but please don't park in my spot again.'

Hopping in his car, Murphy went on his way, but couldn't seem to shake the note. 

        "I was just going to leave it alone," says Murphy. "But I got down the road, and I realized I should probably do something and help her out, because it was just about to be Christmas." 

Turning his car around, he returned home, writing a note of his own, and filling an envelope with $100 in $20 bills. 

'First I would like to apologize for parking in your spot. It was irresponsible on my part, and I would like to give this to you to pay for the ticket and whatever else you need. It can be tough around this time of year. Merry Christmas.'

The woman shared that note on her Facebook account, thanking Murphy and prompting thousands of Facebook shares across the country. Murphy says he never expected the viral attention, but hopes it serves as a reminder for others to pay it forward.

      "Help someone out if they need it, and just do nice things cause everyone deserves to feel happy," he says. Honestly, you get a lot of joy, and you get a lot of happiness in your life if you're helping people." 

Murphy says the pair has exchanged emails, and plans to meet up in the future.