Pocket Change
As usual, I came home and emptied my pockets of the spare change I had gathered during the course of the day. Half went into my rainy day fund while the other half went into my bank that will eventually go to my church. Something looked different as I sorted through the coins. There was an old quarter lurking the group. Not just "kind-of-old" either. This quarter was dated 1942. Wow - 1942!
This quarter had seen World War II, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Martin Luther King. It had seen a time before cell phones and color TV. This quarter had seen the birth of microwaves, Sponge Bob and disposable diapers. This quarter had bought several cups of coffee in 1942 and now needed to be combined with many more to do the same. This quarter had seen Benny Goodman, Elvis, the Beatles. This quarter had seen the dropping of the nuclear bomb and it had seen terrorism as the Twin Towers fell. This quarter saw the first jets, the first computers and the first AIDS victims.
And yet, even though it was nearly 70 years old, it was still a quarter. Maybe it wasn't as valuable as it originally was, but It was still doing it's job as best it could - even now. It was willing to go wherever it was needed. It was still dignified, even though it was worn. The memories had not made it cynical and bitter.
I realize that I'm not trailing that far behind this quarter. I'm not 70 yet, but it looms in the near future. When I reach that age, will I be able to retain my value and stand proudly; even dignified. Or, will I sit back and rest in my golden years and let others step up.
I guess when I'm dropped into the special place where old currency goes to rest, I hope I can be looked at as someone that delivered good things for mankind and be respected sharing all that I've learned and seen.
This quarter had seen World War II, Roosevelt, Kennedy and Martin Luther King. It had seen a time before cell phones and color TV. This quarter had seen the birth of microwaves, Sponge Bob and disposable diapers. This quarter had bought several cups of coffee in 1942 and now needed to be combined with many more to do the same. This quarter had seen Benny Goodman, Elvis, the Beatles. This quarter had seen the dropping of the nuclear bomb and it had seen terrorism as the Twin Towers fell. This quarter saw the first jets, the first computers and the first AIDS victims.
And yet, even though it was nearly 70 years old, it was still a quarter. Maybe it wasn't as valuable as it originally was, but It was still doing it's job as best it could - even now. It was willing to go wherever it was needed. It was still dignified, even though it was worn. The memories had not made it cynical and bitter.
I realize that I'm not trailing that far behind this quarter. I'm not 70 yet, but it looms in the near future. When I reach that age, will I be able to retain my value and stand proudly; even dignified. Or, will I sit back and rest in my golden years and let others step up.
I guess when I'm dropped into the special place where old currency goes to rest, I hope I can be looked at as someone that delivered good things for mankind and be respected sharing all that I've learned and seen.
Posted by Dalen Keys at 10/29/2011 7:58 PM 
Categories: Reflections and Musings, Reflections
Tags: quarter 1942 reflections old age age coins
Categories: Reflections and Musings, Reflections
Tags: quarter 1942 reflections old age age coins
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