Friday, November 07, 2008
#136 - Change
Apologies for the delay everyone! It was an easy prompt this week - you can either go your own way, or take the obvious route - it's "change."
Adding Up
I pick up pennies on the street. I'll admit it. I just can't help myself. If I see small change on the ground, I consider it fair game. The most I've ever made in a day is two dollars, but that doesn't really count, since I just happened upon two $1 bills one day in the English building when I was in college.
However...
I have made as much as 22 cents in change in a day. During a rough patch in my life, I found at least one penny every day for a streak so long that I stopped counting the days. I called them "Pennies from Heaven" and believe that if they were put there for a reason, it was to teach me to be thankful for even the smallest blessings in life.
I kept the pennies in a small plastic container. Eventually, I saved enough pennies that I had received in change and that I found on floors and on the ground that I was able to cash them in at the bank. It came to less than $10. I was still thankful for the pennies, wondering how much of that money I made from change that other people discarded.
Months later, I walked into the laundromat to wash a load of clothes, and I saw a tempting sight: pennies, nickels and dimes all over the floor in front of a washing machine. A young man was loading clothes into a washer near the change. He left while his clothes were washing, and I resisted the temptation to pocket all of the change. I figured that somebody who needed it more than I would see it and pick it up. Or maybe somebody who didn't need it at all would snatch it. Either way, I had learned my lesson and no longer needed to rely on the "Pennies from Heaven" to appreciate what I had.
I don't find pennies very much anymore. Maybe it's because of the economy, or maybe other people got the same idea I did. But I don't think so. I think it's because I don't need my object lesson anymore.
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7 comments:
Beautiful take on 'Change'... Good one!
I'm like that...but I get nervous when I find notes...
Nice story, nice you.
You reminded me of a funny story from my early teens. Mum sister and I were walking down the street one night behind a very drunk man who was dropping change from a hole in his pocket. My Mum started collecting it all up and running after him to give it back. We tried to stop her from accosting the drunk but she wouldn't be stopped and we were so embarrassed by her and the looks and laughs from people walking along the street.My mum is like that.He he.
You are such a strong writer. I loved this contribution to "change". Me? I still pick up pennies, but only if they are face up. But...I'm NOT superstitious. BJ
i am a penny picker upper too.. hey that add up!!! i save all my change all year,, and every year i pay for a full years car insurance with the change i save!!!
I save change too, but its usually all the change I have at the end of the week.
I envy you. And I enjoy your story.
I wish I had as many religious readers as you, too!
A different take. I liked it.
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