Michigan Man Accidentally Finds Penpal After Birthday Card Mix-Up

It’s not every day that a misdirected birthday card leads to a brand-new friendship, but that’s exactly what happened with two men living on opposite sides of Michigan.

Devin Jacobs, who lives in the Detroit Metro, checked his mail one day and found a birthday card inside. Since his own birthday had just passed, he didn’t think twice before opening it.

But instead of finding a card from a friend or family member, he found a cheerful dinosaur birthday card addressed to someone named Declan who lived in his apartment previously, and tucked inside was a $50 bill.

Rather than keeping the card or the cash, Devin did what any decent person would do, he sent it all back. But he didn’t stop there....

Feeling bad for opening something that wasn’t his, he included a hand-drawn picture of a T. rex bursting out of a birthday cake, inspired by the original card’s artwork. Truly, the coolest thing a person could do in this situation

Mike loved it. So much so, he wrote Devin back, thanked him for the gesture, and even tossed in $10 for a beer as a thank-you. What started as a simple mail mishap turned into an unlikely connection between two strangers with shared humor and kindness.

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Devin has been documenting the entire thing on his instagram page, and now things are starting to get even better!

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Devin said he and Mike are exchanging emails (much faster than USPS) and even plan to meet up in person later this week according to a story from our friends at Fox17.

NEXT: Weirdly awesome beers and sours made right here in Michigan ⬇️

What began as a birthday card gone astray has grown into a quirky, heartwarming penpal story between two Michiganders who never expected their paths to cross.

So next time you send a card, double-check the address (or don’t.) Because, you just might make a new friend by accident.