Money matters

Today I wrapped coins. I don't have one of those fancy dividers for pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters. I've got a jar. It was full. There's a certain satisfaction of dumping the change out onto the desk and sorting the various denominations. Can't say it's the cleanest task and the odor is... well, it's an odor - a stinky one. But, it reminds me of times when. We always used to count coins together. He took the pennies, looking fervently for Indian head ones. I liked the quarters best, they were bigger and worth more (probably a woman thing?). Neither one of us were especially fond of the dimes - slick little rascals and way too tiny - more on the floor than in the sleeve. We paid bills together every other Thursday night before biweekly pay-days on Fridays and the checkbook always balanced to the penny. That's not quite true - it balanced to the penny when HE was watching like a hawk. It balanced "close" when I was in charge.

We'd take those heavy, rolled coins to the bank and exchange them for paper money. Amazing the household projects we paid for with our loose change. One time we'd accumulated some $600. It made for a nice transformation in the tiny bath off the guest bedroom.

Silly as it must seem, that stinky smell of coin is still appealing. It's a memory worth remembering. I keep the checkbook ALMOST accurately balanced and the bills are paid on time, however no longer by check, rather by online banking. Aren't I the modern one? And just think of the postage I'm saving. He would be so proud of my efforts.

Every household needs an adult. I declined the designation while I could, but I'm ever so grateful to have learned from a master. What do you do with your spare change?

Sandy