Day #1,031 - "A" Day

“A” is for Apples, Alpacas and Angels.

We began the day with the continental breakfast which is included with the hotel stay. Then it was back to the hotel room for a few hours of grading student papers. Doc coerced me into doing half of the problems (although I did get the easier ones).

At 1 p.m. we headed out to meet the kids. Ashley’s Brownie Troop was having an Apple Picking outing so Doc and I joined in with the family and had a fun time.

By 2 p.m. we were done with that and had some extra time before attending the Viewing at the Mortuary. Thus, we detoured and visited Field of Dreams Alpaca Farm. The owner of the farm gave us a wonderful private tour. My favorite alpaca was a sweet copper-colored one named, of course, Penny!

Before returning to our hotel, we stopped for a few moments at a produce stand in search of honey or dried fruit. Did not find either of those items, but there was a bright shiny penny standing upright on the floor by the cash register. I gave a small “Yippee!” to Doc which caused Charles Drew, the owner of the stand, to wonder about the fuss I was making. Of course I gave him a Penny Card and explained the story while Doc purchased two peaches. JOY shared. (Coin #1).

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We attended the viewing at the mortuary and then the gathering of family and friends at the home of the deceased. Lovely home, good food, fun conversations.

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Around 9 p.m. we headed back to the hotel room. Doc was dismayed that we only had one penny for the day, so he detoured into an Albertsons store where I found one penny. (Coin #2). At the next intersection we noticed a Starbucks with no cars at the drive up window, so I had Doc detour there. I hopped out of the van and asked the Angels for “a coin for Doc”. There was a silver dime. (Coin #3).

9:30 was still a little early to head to the hotel room, so we detoured into Kmart. Doc found a silver (dime) and I collected two pennies and a new blouse. (Coins #4-6)

As we were driving away from the Kmart Doc said, “That totals 24¢ -- just one cent shy of your favorite number”. By then we were getting silly. There was a Burger King within the shopping center, so I told Doc to pause the van while I ran past the drive up window to look for a penny. I said to the Angels, “I am searching for the 25¢” I guess they misunderstood me because they provided a quarter versus the expected penny under the window. (Coin #7). Then when I turned to go back to the van, a nickel gleamed in the moonlight. (Coin #8) (Now we had a Hit for the Cycle). I laughed and said, “Thanks Angels, but I asked for a Penny!” So they provided one under one of the outdoor eating tables. (Coin #9).

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OK. Now we could continue to the hotel room and call it quits for the day. (As far as Penny Finding was concerned).

Total: 9 Coins P (5), N (1), D (2), Q (1) = $0.55