Day 129 CJSM

A note to new readers:

 

Cookie Jar Sweet Memories (CJSM) is a

compilation of event-highlights of our family

over the past fifty-plus years. Our girls and grandchildren

gave us a cookie jar stuffed with slips of paper on which

are written vignettes from our time and space. From these,

I took the liberty of incorporating them into my blog.

 

Hope you enjoy the reminiscing as we loved the reality.

 

The author

 

 

 

 

Day 129

 

 

Splitting Dad’s change

 

 

My dear Grandma Aleta taught me the “value” of saving with “A penny saved is a penny earned”; save up for a rainy day” and, “Ask if you really need that costly item!” Wow! It’s a wonder that I am not a stingy-old miser! But---I am not…actually, I am quite Generous!

I seem to have cultivated a palpable distain toward “evil” money. You know, that paper, silver and gold stuff everybody (nearly) covets more than precious life, itself. Go ahead, get 4 or 5 bills together (1’s, 5’s, 10’s), it doesn’t matter, roll them into a tight cylinder, hold them right up against your nostril and take a big whiff---whew!...nauseating! Money---stinks!

Oh! True enough! I earned my share over the decades---enjoyed it; had fun…spent it all and, then some! If counting had been important, maybe I’d have a shekel or two, today! Who cares!?

So? Well! I made a lot of green-stuff---spent it…or, gave it away! Pure pleasure!

I had a deal once where I got a monthly bonus depending on my ambition; a commission!

The few times I wasn’t totally lazy, I earned some nice change---a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. I’d go to the bank and get $100 bills; when I got home and the kids showed up from school, I would roll up the bills in two nice coils, put one bundle in each hand, held them forth toward the girls and said, “Which hand?” They delighted in this little game; me, too!

I got into the habit of never spending my loose (coins) change; I took an empty three pound coffee can (we inherited one as neither of us drink the addictive concoction) and would fill it with change over time, then divide the accumulation with the kids. Great fun!

Then, I forced the habit of never spending any bill less than $5.00; the ones and coin change were “saved” for the kids to split. When the Treasury Department brought out new ten dollar bills, I started a collection of those, also. Another large coffee can served as a “temporary” bank for one dollar bills and quarters; when it was stuffed to the brim, it totaled one thousand dollars.

Maybe, I should have “respected” money more, when I had a bit of the stuff; might even be that had I tried harder, I’d have a bankroll---today!?...Probably not. Would have spent or given it away! Can’t teach an old dog new tricks!? I---wonder…but, I really don’t care!

When I win the big lottery---I'll spend that, too!...Or, give it away! Déjà vu! All over, again!

 

Anybody got any---cash? I need a non-repayable…loan!?

 

Ah! Cookie Jar Sweet “U. S. Grant” Memories!