Airport Antics

Today was the final day of our vacation.  EVERY day was magical and superseded our expectations.  The best part was being with our son and daughter-in-law on their honeymoon.  (They married five years ago, but had delayed their honeymoon).  All of us were acting like newlyweds again.

This morning we said goodbye to Brian and Celeste.  Then Doc and I called for an Uber ride to the nearest Fred Myers superstore for coffee, breakfast and Penny Finding!  The coffee, sandwich, fruit, etc. was under $10 for the two of us, but the ride to get there was $13!    LOL   We found 6 pennies and a dime inside the store, with an additional 5 pennies in the nearby gas station and car wash.   Mission accomplished.

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While eating breakfast I realized I had not bought any souvenirs to take home.  I searched the entire superstore for something unique and memorable.  Finally found these Steve Madden socks – Penny Socks! And they were marked down from $14 to $5 for the 5 pairs.  OK. Splurge! 

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One of the objectives of this trip was to test out Doc’s newly implanted knee.  He walked over 10,000 steps each day on this trip (usually 12,000-15,000) and yesterday logged over 18,000 steps!  It appears the new hardware is working quite well.  YAY!  The other knee however is complaining loudly and wanting replacement as well.

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At noon it was time to head to the airport.  Going through security took a really long time for Doc to take off all his accessories, take apart the contents of his medical bag, etc.  We finally cleared that hurdle and Doc headed for Starbucks and lunch.  I went Penny Finding.

I spotted a penny on the floor – under a sleeping older gentleman.  Now just how was I going to get that penny from underneath him without waking him?  I assessed the situation and finally determined to approach from the aisle behind the man.   I was reaching and stretching and trying to coax that penny closer to me.  I emerged with penny in hand.  A man in the next aisle quipped: “That was sure a lot of effort for a penny!”  My reply: “It’s not the Money, It’s the Message.”  By now several other passengers were listening and I had an audience.  That led to a brief explanation of Penny Finding as well as a few short Penny Tales. Within a few minutes the other passengers were all smiling at the stories and at each other.  I skipped away saying “JOY is Contagious – Help spread It!

Listening

Can you believe it has been over 10 weeks since the last Penny Tale?  It is now Consecutive Day #629, so I have been finding coins each day, just not writing about them.

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Story #1

This morning after I parked my pickup truck at the Metrolink Station, I started talking ….

“Good Morning Penny Angels.  How about if YOU work on the coins for today, while God works on my Brother’s Trial? (* see more below if interested)    No offense intended Angels, but today we need the Big Guy in that courtroom.”  “And would you consider providing the coin early in the day, so I don’t have to think any more about it?”   Within 1-2 minutes there was my penny. YAY.  THANK YOU.

Doc and I have been meeting my mom each morning at the Metrolink station nearest her house in order for her to travel to the Courtroom with us.  I hop out for a few moments to find her and let her know where we are sitting.  This morning Doc was insistent that I NOT hop out to fetch mom because I might loose MY seat. I had a feeling I should go.  I hopped out of the Metro, waved at my mom, then dove past the passengers trying to embark.  I had spotted a dime and I was going to obtain it before getting back on board.  LOL.  I LISTENED to the NUDGING.

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Story #2

While the jury was deliberating this morning, a group of my brother’s co-workers, friends and family hung out in the cafeteria. At lunchtime I got up to stretch. There were TWO dimes sitting on a table. (Reminder:  A single found coin is a fluke; two is a sign from above).  I danced a little happy jig and raised them up to show the team.  (Message: God is here with us).  A lady sitting at a nearby table smiled at my happy dance.

I went to sit down where Doc had just placed my lunch.  I caught the eye of that lady.  The “Nudging said: “Go talk to her”.  I argued back.

Tina: “My lunch will get cold.”  

Nudging: “GO. Talk to her.”

Tina:  “People will think I am crazy.”

Nudging: “Don’t care what PEOPLE think. Do it!”

Tina: “We are not supposed to talk about stuff around here.”

Nudging: “You won’t be talking about the case.”

Tina:  “What will I say to total strangers?”

Nudging: “Trust me”

I finally stopped arguing and went over to the lady saying, “I don’t know what you believe, but something is telling me to come over and talk to you”. We had a wonderful few moments together. I gave her a penny card and told her about the Impossible becoming Possible.  She had her own favorite phrase about overcoming the impossible, so our conversation was a confirmation to her to “keep the faith”.  We were both teary eyed.  I LISTENED to the Nudging and was so very blessed by doing that.

No photos today since those are not allowed anywhere on the Federal premises.

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Story #3

In the Jury deliberations today of my brother’s court case (*), one juror REALLY LISTENED to the evidence. Due to his attention to the details, other jurors were refreshed with the facts in order to make their decisions. The vote of the jury this morning was 6-6 on all three charges.  By the end of the day it was:  Not Guilty on Charge #1: Obstruction of Justice. Hung Jury on Charges #2&3:  Lying to the FBI.

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Lesson:  LISTEN!!!!

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 (*) My brother has been on trial in Federal Court this past week.  He is a police officer.  A citizen filed a complaint about the way her juvenile son was arrested by the department.  Brother was assigned to investigate the case.  The son would not talk to him, family would not talk.  Thus my brother did interviews of 14 officers and 2 bystanders.  Family claiming biased investigation.  FBI called in.  FBI asked for documents on the case.  Brother sent memo to Police Chief and City Attorney asking for advice on which documents to release because he “did not want to jeopardize things”. (There were three ongoing trials and investigations related to the case.)  The FBI charged him with not cooperating, lying, and trying to hide evidence.

Passing Forward

This morning I had numerous places to go before getting home for a 10:30 a.m. phone meeting. I took a friend to the airport, my sewing machine in for repair, etc.  At the final stop I said, “Hey Angels, are you listening up there?  Please provide a penny in the next few minutes because after that I am going home and will not leave the house for the rest of the day.”

There were no coins in the parking lot or inside the first store.  At the 99¢ Store I was ready to pay for my one item when a lady with at least 100 items in her cart (it was literally overflowing) pulled in front of me.  That did NOT help my attitude.

Let’s see if I can create a picture for you…There was only one open check out lane and cashier.  Customer #1 was just completing her purchase.  Customer #2 had at least ¾ of a cart full of items.  Customer #3 as mentioned had an overflowing cart. 

I was about to set down my one item and leave the store.  There was no way I was going to make it to my 10:30 appointment if I had to wait in that long line.  The cashier was beginning to scan the first item for Customer #2.  Customer #3 (in front of me) said to Customer #2,  “Wait!  Would you allow this lady to Pass in front of you?  She only has one item.”  I was amazed.  Not only had she offered to let me Pass in front of her, but she petitioned Customer #2 on my behalf as well!  Pretty bold move!

Customer #2 smiled and said, “Sure!”  I passed by the cart in front of me and then paused for a moment before proceeding to pass the next cart.  In those few seconds we three ladies were standing fairly close to each other and sandwiched between the two shopping carts.  I said something to the effect of “Thank You for your Act of Random Kindness, I’m sure it will come back to you”.  At that moment I looked down and there was today’s penny shining brightly between us!  COINcidence?

It was a JOY moment shared with two strangers.  Each of the ladies was given a Penny Card as a remembrance for participating in today’s Penny Find.  Such Fun.

2017 Summary

WOW!  One week of 2018 has already been completed and we are off to a running start in this new year.  Of course, the Penny Angels have produced coins every day so far.

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The Penny Finding data from 2017 has now been summarized.  Last year the Penny Angels provided  2675 coins, 5 paper bills and numerous international coins. 

It was painful in June when the continuous streak of 791 Days ended.  Doc and I, plus our extended families, were confined on an ocean vessel which advertised a “cashless shipboard experience”.  They weren’t kidding!  I searched and searched to no avail.

Upon returning from our travels, the coin finding has resumed and we are now on Day #177 of this new Continuous Streak.

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The 56 coins found on Christmas Day were special.  The finding of those coins was more precious to me than any jewels or other material gifts I could have received.

Doc and I went to Tehachapi to visit my brother and family.  One of our favorite things is to take the four nieces and nephews for Vanilla Steamers at Starbucks, then Penny Finding!  So after breakfast and gift opening, we drove the 12 miles into town for 2.5 hours of fun and laughter.

Since it was Christmas Day, many businesses were closed.  We asked the Penny Angels to guide us in our search.  The first stop was Frosty King.  There were +/- 38 coins at the drive up window!  The Angels definitely answered our request – except that the coins were embedded in the asphalt!  We could not collect them.

Lesson Learned:  Be more specific with the goals / requests.

We subsequently asked to find coins which we could actually take away with us.

We next went to Starbucks for Doc’s requisite coffee and the kids’ vanilla steamers.  Five coins found at that stop.  We hit the Kmart lot, Circle K, the High School, the Middle School, gas stations, the Flying J truck stop, Love’s truck stop and more.  At one point we had pennies, nickels and dimes, but needed a quarter to obtain our “Hit for the Cycle”.  We were all asking the Angels for a quarter.  At the next stop I hopped out of the van and immediately found that quarter.  Then Uncle Doc also found one.

Such a fun two hours.  We laughed and played.  Niece Jamie (10 years old) was a penny hog and would shove me out of the way as I went reaching for MY finds.  (She claims she merely ran faster than I did).

We had 15 minutes remaining before we needed to head back to the house for Christmas Dinner.  Niece Jamie wanted to search at the Sonic Burger.  We found a few coins there.  Jamie noticed the closed Taco Bell next door and insisted that she and I look there.  JACK POT!  There were 15 pennies, 3 nickels, 5 dimes, and a quarter!  That completed 3 Hits for the Cycle during those few hours.  That was our “Grand Finale” experience for 2017.

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For you Data Nerds

In 2017: 

      1938 Pennies, 159 Nickels, 448 Dimes, 126 Quarters, 66 Foreigns and Others, 92 Norman Pennies and 34 Hits for the Cycle.

Since Penny Tales began in December of 2008:

      26,433 U.S. Coins, Numerous Foreign coins and tokens for $1,156.53

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It has been nine years of Penny Finding and Penny Tales. 

It’s NOT really the money which matters – it’s the messages.  Each coin has a story linked to it and each penny somehow makes a difference.