I Made Three Cents This Morning

Elberon, NJ June 3, 2000 Aaron H.
Schectman

THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on issues, ideas and reflections on the times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome. I MADE THREE CENTS THIS MORNING
Actually, I FOUND three cents this morning. One is dated 1994, another
1998 and the third 2000. I found them in the parking area, deserted at five
thirty a.m., as I was bicycling toward the Long Branch boardwalk. The wind
was from the north that was the direction in which I was headed and it was a
gusty, strong wind with the sun just rising up out of the ocean.
I found that I was pedaling into a headwind but realized that wind would be
behind me when I retraced my tracks. Of course, on my return the wind
changed.

I stop and pick up coins routinely. I know there is a certain kind of
person who scatters pennies around wisely concluding that Jews (who are
economically disturbed) will pick them up. They do this to prove the charge
against those of the Hebrew persuasion that they are moneygrubbers. This
libel does not bother me because I believe in the old Yankee proverb that a
penny saved is a penny earned. My biggest score was the $5.00 bill I picked
up one morning near a convenience store after a big night on the New Jersey
Shore. Bicycling can be profitable although one should not ride the bike in
hope of getting rich. I am moderately lucky in finding things in this way.

Some people gamble. Carol and I rarely do and only recently succumbed to
the siren call of the obscenely huge lottery prize recently won by two
mid-western gentlemen. I gambled on it being a good morning for riding the
bicycle. I had not ridden for over four months because of injuries and
inclement weather. This morning was chilly, windy and almost convinced me
that I should stay in. Moreover, my recently renovated knee was giving me
indications that I should lay off - but with the success of yesterday, I
succumbed to the siren call of fresh air and good exercise.

Carol and I are going to drive up to route 80 about 40 miles into
Pennsylvania to see Evelyn and Frank. My sister and her husband have
returned to the East from rural Missouri and from their winter sojourn in
Mexico. Their section of hilly Pennsylvania is rural enough to suit Frank
who once owned property in Florida. Come to think of it, his property there
was out in the boondocks, too. There is no accounting for people's choices,
is there? Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10