Dime...

The other day I went to the grocery store.   After I finished shopping, on my way out, I dropped a coin...it was a dime.  Both hands were filled with plastic bags, so I hesitated to pick up the coin, but I did anyway.  

On my way back home I thought about a story about my friend's family.  One day their daughter picked up a coin on the street. Her father told her, "put it back."   She said to her father, "but papa, whoever dropped it left it here...and if I don't pick it up, somebody else will."  

He explained to his daughter, "it doesn't matter if the person that dropped it left it there.  You don't need that money.  You should leave it for someone who has less than you who really needs it."  His daughter put the coin back where she found it.

My friend's daughter is all grown up now and is a prosecuting attorney.  If I marry some day, I want to be as honest and honorable a mother as this girl's father

So with so many in need these days, think twice before picking up the loose change...
Megan ^^

-- Modified on 7/31/2011 9:31:08 AM

Think twice before picking up the loose change.

About 10 years ago, I worked at my client's office in an assigned workstation which is meant for an administrative assistant. It overlooks the corridor where there is plenty of fresh air and with a view of everyone walking by.

One day, a member of the custodian staff saw a penny on the floor, asked if it was mine, ignoring my answer of "no" and left it on the corner of my desk facing foot traffic on the corridor.

Weeks gone by. I was walking back from a meeting, a short, red-headed guy with shifty eyes who often waited outside the office across from my desk for meetings was there, standing in front of my desk. He slapped his hand on my desk, covering the penny, then slide it forward to the far edge. At that point I was standing next to him. He reacted by pretending that he was looking at a computer monitor and shrugged, mumbling the word "interesting", I think. Before he walked away, he lifted his hand and left the penny on my desk.

I guess he was a bit short that day. Ten years later I still work for that client, except that I have a private office, and I see that small-time thief all the time.

I walk a great deal and often find small coins near parking meters and coin operated newspaper boxes.  I have never thought about leaving them and have (in the past ) always pocketed the coins.  In the future I will leave them where I pass them.  Thanks for the nice thought.

A few years ago, I was enjoying a LTR with a SO, let's call her Diane.  We shared an apartment, career field (primary for her, secondary for me), a small bank account, and had recently purchased (with my money and credit) a $50K SUV.  Diane had a number of chronic health issues, including fibromyalgia, migraines, and hypoglycemia and had just been diagnosed with cervical cancer.  That is pretty tough for anyone but especially for someone under 30.

I returned from an extended trip to find Diane, the bank account and the SUV gone and a letter in my mailbox.  After trying unsuccessfully on my own to locate her, I hired a PI to track her down.  Of course, I had a concern about the liability of having a car registered in my name heaven knows where, but my principal concern was about Diane's well being.  After about a month, the PI located her in a distant state.  She had forged my signature and re-registered the car.  The PI asked if I wanted to turn her info over to the police and prosecute to recover my car and perhaps some money.

I thought about it long and hard, but finally just told him no, she needs that car far more than I do.

Now, I wish I could easily blow off $50K and not miss it, but unfortunately that's not the case.  The SUV was only a year old, and it would have been much better than the 10-year old car I drive.  But Diane had no resources, was probably scared, and was fighting for her life.  I am far more fortunate than that.  I only hope that where ever she is that her battle was won and that she's driving my SUV in better health.

You know the old expression, "A fool and his SUV are soon parted."  I'm sure many reading this and quite a few of my friends think I fit the part of a fool.  But my wise and honorable parents taught me the same principle expressed by Megan.  I'm very happy that I could follow it when it really counted.

There are always at least two sides to "every" coin. Not to mention the smooth and rough edges.

I am always afraid to walk over a penny if I see it because it may bring good luck!

Plus, it all adds up, eventually......(and, no I am not speaking so much in dollars as in "sense")

Pn

I was working on a Saturday at the empty office. I was hungry so I headed to the canteen to get some snack. I was five cents short and only had large bills. So I got down on my hands and knees and found bundles of change under the machines. I felt dirty, literally.