This post originally appeared on January 1 at The Dana Files as part of the Blog Exchange. I just like it a lot, and want to have it up here, too. What can I say?
Many people dislike change. They feel it weighs down their pockets, causes unmanageable bulges in their wallets, or makes too much noise as it clangs together. My husband is one of those people. At the end of the day, he clears all his accumulated change and throws it into our household piggy bank. (He does, however, relish counting change, rolling it in money wrappers, and bringing it to the bank for large deposits.)
I love change. There is something appealing to me about having a variety of quarters, dimes, nickels, and even pennies at my disposal. The different sizes, colors, and weights of coins are romantic in a way, and soothing. If someone offered me a choice between a c-note or shiny quarter, I'd take the bill (I love change, but am not blinded by it!), but in my heart of hearts, I'd crave the heft of the coin. When people discuss abolishing pennies, I am filled with horror and sadness. All change has its place and usefulness. What would "penny candy" taste like if bought for a nickel? (OK, I concede that "penny candy" is not widely, if at all, available these days, but throw me a bone here.) Paying for anything with exact change delights me. Sure, it might annoy the less patient people waiting in line as I fumble for 67 cents, but I derive immense satisfaction from the transaction.
In the fall of 2006, I made a big, scary, and exciting change in my life when I quit my job as a senior program officer at a nonprofit financial institution to try to make it as a writer. So far, it has been a wonderful experience, but as a fiercely independent woman, I am uncomfortable about contributing no real income to my household. Whenever I fret about what 2007 will bring, I reach into the coin purse attached to my wallet and I scoop out a hand full of change. Holding a small amount of solid coins in my hand reminds me that change may come and go, but it will always exist. In the end, I'll be OK.
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ha! i just read this yesterday over at the dana files 'cause i wanted to see what you had to say on your 'day off'.
ReplyDeleteregarding the post, i think that's why i like pounds so much. they're a very tangible, weighty currency.
I am sure you will certainly be OK if your writing style on your blogs is anything to go by, then you definitely have a gift.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it funny about the change thing? I wonder if it is a male/female thing, as I too dump my excess change daily into a 'piggy bank'. My wife however does not, but I haven't asked her if her feelings are the same as yours.
Mar - Pounds are awesome. It takes me a bit of time to get used to pound or euro coins that are not "change" but "whole numbers," like a 1 pound or 1 euro coin, but it's cool. Husband HATES them because they require him to carry coins, which leads me to DeeJay...
ReplyDeleteDeeJay - let me know what your wife says about change. I'm very curious. And thanks for your compliment!
I too have the writers non-income need to touch tangable money thing - I find I have bills, then keep all change as a back up "reserve fund" which I carry around on the pretense that I "could" spend it - if I chose to - which feels a lot better than "you're a struggling writer....go stare at things in windows you can never afford."
ReplyDeleteI love that your blog on change was actually on monetary change. You're so ironic.
ReplyDeleteA mathematician once devised coins of denominations that would lessen the amount of change we have to carry now. (Things like a 17-cent piece, for instance.) It was a great idea until he realized people can't do that "tricky" math that doesn't end in 5 or 0. And so the revolution died there.
oh! I just saw that this was voted one of the best! Congrats!
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