Way back in September, 2010, I moved here, and immediately (I believe I
picked up my first penny in the parking lot of the hotel I was about to
get a room in) began finding change on the ground. I thought to myself,
"hey, wouldn't it be neat if I found a penny every day until Scooter
comes out here?" I started to keep track. There were days at a time when
I wouldn't find anything. Other days, I'd find a lot (on the windiest
December day in 2010, I found a dollar bill on the ground). I kept an
internal log for nearly a year, and in that time, found over $5.00. Way
better than my goal of a penny per day. I began to think of Portland as
this generous cash-cow city. I marveled at the fact that I would find so
much money on my well-worn walk to and from work. Recession? What
recession?! Well, this fall, the days between treasure-finding became
more pronounced. I'd go 10 days, sometimes weeks between finding a
penny.
Ben and I joked that it was the recession. Ground change lags as a
recession indicator. Rather than dollar bills, I'd only find pennies.
When those, too, became scarce, I'd start finding IOUs or coupons. Ha ha
ha. Well...this week, I have found one penny. But it was the first one
of the year. I have not found any coupons or IOU notes. What I have been
starting to find is gently used items. I have not become so desperate
as to pick any of them up, but who would have guessed that I would find 3
toothbrushes in 3 separate areas in one day? This morning, I found a
nail file. I guess this week was bathroom week.
I wonder if I'll start finding kitchen utensils next week? I kind of need a new (or gently used) mixer...
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