I like to pick up abandoned pens, on the theory you should never have to buy a pen because there are always plenty lying around. I have a fascinating collection of random pens - the most intriguing is one from a funeral home in Denver (I live in the Chicago area). How the lowly pen made its way across the country is interesting to ponder.
Once I found a five dollar bill at exactly the same time as someone else. I wondered how we would figure out who got it, but then the other guy happened to have $2.50 in change, so we split it!
Never would have guessed this could be turned into a school science project but I love that it was! Is it true that “men have slightly better vision”? Never heard that. My elementary school bestie had a version of this coin game which entertained her, siblings and whatever friend happened by. She would “seed” the sidewalk with a coin and we would watch (gleefully!) what happened from the perch of her parents’ pink hilltop Victorian. All coins were used though quarters most sparingly. The street was a busy one as it was at a crossroads near a grocery store, hospital, psychiatric hospital and other walkable destinations. So, it wasn’t long before a pedestrian hurrying to one of those places would spot the coin and scoop it up. As I recall, mostly men were the winners of this bounty. Enter my bestie’s brilliant idea: she would use a type of super glue to adhere coins to said sidewalk. She discovered that the would-be lucky finders would bend over to pick up any coin on the sidewalk but if the glued coin was a penny, nickel, or dime which could not be lifted, the pedestrian would move on more quickly. Interestingly, if a quarter was glued on the sidewalk, pedestrians would search pockets and/or return with tools (!) to remove valuable said quarter. Were we bored 12 year olds? Yes. Was it fun? All summer long.
I knew of people who put a $20 bill under a car tire - they backed the car up so the money was nearly impossible to free. People went to extraordinary lengths to get the bill!
one of my favorite quotes - “But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days.” ― Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
About 30 years ago, my brother in law was on a road trip. He and his friends ran out of gas right at Montague, CA. While one group hoofed it to a gas station, the others hung out by the car. One discovered a small pile of change at the base of the Montague exit sign. They added to it, and told the story when they returned home.
For the past 30 years, our friend group (most of us live in Oregon) has maintained a pile of random change in this same location. Every time one of us heads south in I5, we pull over at this spot, note how much is there or what’s been taken, and leave more. It’s a moveable feast of pocket change!
I love this. My neighbor believes that spotting hearts (in nature, dirty dishes, etc.) is a sign from her late Mother. She often shares pictures via Facebook. So when I spot them, I'll snap a picture and text it to her. My three sons know the deal and one will often prompt me to snap and "send a heart to C." <3
I’m always stumbling over coins in the road, in parking lots. I keep two piggy banks (one a pink pig my credit union gave me and one an English post box. I love the idea of giving fundings to charity. Going to try it out in my grandkids. Never too early to start noticing And giving
Loved getting to read through this as always. My wife and I always do a cat count on our walk and talks. Somedays it’s none, somedays it’s been over 20. All in the same little loop. Your newsletter always reminds me to keep looking. Thank you.
Regarding on finding money, when myh kid were young (25 yrs ago!) and before electronic payment at toll booths, I noticed that people would miss the toll booth and leave money lying there. So whenever I went through a toll booth I would get out of the car and scrounge for the loose change. My kids were mortified, but I would yell out, "This family doesn't through money out the window." I usually found enough change to pay for the tolls!
What a fun read on a rainy day! I've been a coin-finder since childhood. My most spectacular haul was in grade school. I was in JL Hudson's dept. store in Detroit (one of those grand, old, 12-floor department stores of yesteryear) and methodically checked the coin return slots of a bank of pay phones for spare change. I hit the jackpot: one was full of dimes - 12, exactly. It may have been only $1.20, but to a small kid - priceless! Another significant find was a $20 bill in a bank parking lot during college, at a time when my money had run out. I light up with a smile every time I find a penny and am glad to see I am not alone in this affliction!
I like to pick up abandoned pens, on the theory you should never have to buy a pen because there are always plenty lying around. I have a fascinating collection of random pens - the most intriguing is one from a funeral home in Denver (I live in the Chicago area). How the lowly pen made its way across the country is interesting to ponder.
Once I found a five dollar bill at exactly the same time as someone else. I wondered how we would figure out who got it, but then the other guy happened to have $2.50 in change, so we split it!
Wow this thing about pens is something I have totally overlooked! I'm going to keep an eye out.
And I love the split $5! Thank you :)
Never would have guessed this could be turned into a school science project but I love that it was! Is it true that “men have slightly better vision”? Never heard that. My elementary school bestie had a version of this coin game which entertained her, siblings and whatever friend happened by. She would “seed” the sidewalk with a coin and we would watch (gleefully!) what happened from the perch of her parents’ pink hilltop Victorian. All coins were used though quarters most sparingly. The street was a busy one as it was at a crossroads near a grocery store, hospital, psychiatric hospital and other walkable destinations. So, it wasn’t long before a pedestrian hurrying to one of those places would spot the coin and scoop it up. As I recall, mostly men were the winners of this bounty. Enter my bestie’s brilliant idea: she would use a type of super glue to adhere coins to said sidewalk. She discovered that the would-be lucky finders would bend over to pick up any coin on the sidewalk but if the glued coin was a penny, nickel, or dime which could not be lifted, the pedestrian would move on more quickly. Interestingly, if a quarter was glued on the sidewalk, pedestrians would search pockets and/or return with tools (!) to remove valuable said quarter. Were we bored 12 year olds? Yes. Was it fun? All summer long.
That's hilarious! And surprising about returning with tools.
I was curious about the eyesight thing, too, seems dubious.
I think the lucky finders of street coins are those of us who walk looking down rather than into the distance.
I knew of people who put a $20 bill under a car tire - they backed the car up so the money was nearly impossible to free. People went to extraordinary lengths to get the bill!
Yessssss! Just need an inconspicuous spot to watch the circus unfold!
Ha ha ha that may be taking things a bit too far!
Find a penny Pick it up All day long Have good luck!
Yes my mom used to say that ha ha!
I collect fallen feathers. I have a jar full on my altar, all varieties from owl to jay via lots of rooksand crows
I collect crow feathers and keep a growing bouquet in a vase, too!
!!
Very nice!
Your post reminded me of this,
one of my favorite quotes - “But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days.” ― Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Oh lovely, thank you for that :)
I love the walk and talk idea, and I'm sure it would be near impossible here in the States. It's another reason I often wish I lived in the UK.
About 30 years ago, my brother in law was on a road trip. He and his friends ran out of gas right at Montague, CA. While one group hoofed it to a gas station, the others hung out by the car. One discovered a small pile of change at the base of the Montague exit sign. They added to it, and told the story when they returned home.
For the past 30 years, our friend group (most of us live in Oregon) has maintained a pile of random change in this same location. Every time one of us heads south in I5, we pull over at this spot, note how much is there or what’s been taken, and leave more. It’s a moveable feast of pocket change!
That's so cool! Love it : )
I love this. My neighbor believes that spotting hearts (in nature, dirty dishes, etc.) is a sign from her late Mother. She often shares pictures via Facebook. So when I spot them, I'll snap a picture and text it to her. My three sons know the deal and one will often prompt me to snap and "send a heart to C." <3
That's really lovely, thank you
Oh, those resumes!
Thanks for the laughs.
This morning I read a story in NYT about a “magnet fisherman” finding a safe containing thousands of dollars, but the bills were dissolving. (Turns out there’s a government agency who can take care of that problem.) https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/13/nyregion/couple-magnet-fishing-safe-nyc.html
Ha ha I missed that, thanks for the pointer, Shawn!
I’m always stumbling over coins in the road, in parking lots. I keep two piggy banks (one a pink pig my credit union gave me and one an English post box. I love the idea of giving fundings to charity. Going to try it out in my grandkids. Never too early to start noticing And giving
Love it, thank you!
Loved getting to read through this as always. My wife and I always do a cat count on our walk and talks. Somedays it’s none, somedays it’s been over 20. All in the same little loop. Your newsletter always reminds me to keep looking. Thank you.
Ha ha yes, I sometimes do cat and/or dog counts on bike rides!
This WKRP DJ set is AHMAYZING. Thank you.
Oh I'm so glad you checked it out! I was a little skeptical at first but it won me over pretty quickly. Impressive!
Regarding on finding money, when myh kid were young (25 yrs ago!) and before electronic payment at toll booths, I noticed that people would miss the toll booth and leave money lying there. So whenever I went through a toll booth I would get out of the car and scrounge for the loose change. My kids were mortified, but I would yell out, "This family doesn't through money out the window." I usually found enough change to pay for the tolls!
Ha ha ha good for you!
Love it!
What a fun read on a rainy day! I've been a coin-finder since childhood. My most spectacular haul was in grade school. I was in JL Hudson's dept. store in Detroit (one of those grand, old, 12-floor department stores of yesteryear) and methodically checked the coin return slots of a bank of pay phones for spare change. I hit the jackpot: one was full of dimes - 12, exactly. It may have been only $1.20, but to a small kid - priceless! Another significant find was a $20 bill in a bank parking lot during college, at a time when my money had run out. I light up with a smile every time I find a penny and am glad to see I am not alone in this affliction!
Love it, thank you :)