When did you last spot money on the ground somewhere? How much? Enough that you felt it worthwhile to bend over and pick it up? Recently, I spotted a $5.00 bill, picked up without hesitation. What would you have done? Would you perhaps briefly ponder what $5.00 could buy in 2025? I did. Pocketing the bill, I envisioned two sixteen-ounce coffees at my local convenience store. Those of you favoring those barista concoctions would of course need more. Me? I'd end up with some change for my jar back home.
My next thought? Genuine surprise at how unexcited I was spotting that $5.00 bill. Old farts: With me yet? As soon as I recognized my nonchalant attitude about having $5.00 more in my pocket than I'd had moments before, the time machine opened unto 1973. Twenty-four-year-old Pat spots $5.00 on the ground. Unexcited, nonchalant, blase? Are you kidding? In 1973, while making my living as a musician, I would routinely get off the Garden State Parkway on Bloy St. in Hillside to avoid paying .25 at the Union toll plaza. And then I'd get right back on the Parkway past that plaza and continue to my gig. After the gig - if I'd paid my month's rent - I would sometimes stop for a cup of coffee at a diner = .10 including refills. Yes, I would avoid that same Union toll going home.
For the non-curmudgeonly or anyone born on third base who thinks they hit a triple, apologies if today's reflection has limited resonance. For me, that $5.00 bill kicked off a journey to the past.
Hey Pat, I’d react the opposite way. My inner kid would kick in and I’d feel like I hit a jackpot. Later it might sink in that $5 doesn’t go very far, but I’d still feel lucky. I might even keep it in my wallet for a while. Of course, now that people don’t carry cash like they used to it’s increasingly unlikely that such a find would brighten our day.
ReplyDeleteJim; Thanks for the comment. I embrace the notion of the letting the inner kid run loose but I must admit - in this circumstance - that didn't happen. Hence my trip in the time machine.
DeleteCongrats on the $5, Codgie
ReplyDeleteAnonymous; Thanks for the codgie comment.
DeleteI'm with Jim. Regardless of what $5 can buy me, I would still feel lucky!
ReplyDeleteInes; Thanks for the comment.
DeleteHey Pat. Aside from some coins here and there I can't recall finding 'paper' money in recent memory. However, I love the comparison to 2025 versus 1973. Today, 2025, not much $5 can get you, sadly, although a nice cup of Dark Roast coffee at a WaWa would also yield change, so that's good. But, 1973, or maybe 74 or 75 - $5.00 !!! It would have prevented some of the times I ran out of gas. But remembering one or two of those times brought a nice chuckle, so thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteBe well,
Bob
Hey Bob; Glad I gave you a chuckle. And your comment - including the times you ran out of gas in 1973 for lack of an extra $5.00 - is consistent with the spirit of my post; thanks for that.
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