Everything Change Is Butt Chew
This last I went to the post office and sent a letter and a parcel.
Post office lady: “That’s three pounds forty four.”
I get a handful of change out.
Me: “Hey wow.”
Post office lady raises quizzical eyebrows, one slightly more than the other.
Me: “That’s exactly how much change I have in my pocket right now.”
I throw down the coins emphatically into the little tray thing.
Post office lady: “Wierd.”
I think she is impressed I carry that sort of money around with me. I’m not bragging, but honestly, three pounds forty four to me is just loose change.
Truthfully, I like it when little things work out like that. How something comes together without there even being a plan. With things that, if you saw them in a movie, the audience would be like, “Yeah, except that never happens,” but I would think, “Sometimes it happens…”
Think of it.
John Cusack walks into a Seven Eleven, buys a coffee and a paper and some stamps. He’s got Drew Barrymore waiting in the car outside.Cut to car
She’s putting on makeup and singing along to the Doobie Brothers on the radio of the Mustang. She catches Cusack’s eye in the store and she waves.
Cut back to store
He waves back and picks up a Diet Coke and some peanut M&M’s for her.
Staying with him, but shot from the car.
The guy behind the counter says something and John Cusack reaches into his pocket, stares at the coins for a second then gives a look of mild bewilderment and puts all the coins on the counter before he walks out.
It probably wouldn’t happen - I’m not saying it wouldn’t, but it could. But normally you would get some kind of coin fumblage amidst a shooting of the breeze over the Twinkies. Or at least a cocking of an ear to the game on the radio while money is exchanged.
But not with me, I have exact change.
I’m not saying John Cusack doesn’t, but that’s just me, you know? That’s just how I roll.
March 14th, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Three pounds 44 would be about 7 dollars, and in the US , there are few ‘dollar’ coins actually in full circulation. People hate spending them because they are ‘rare’- meaning that they aren’t commonly spent, so people are recluctant to spend them… I know, it’s wacky.
Anyway, 7 dollars in pocket change would be a high number of coins, at least 28, and few people carry that many coins in their pockets over here.
HOW-EVER….
Let’s say for brevity’s sake that the total in conversion goes to 6 dollars and seventy three cents, and you- or perhaps John Cusack- had exactly six one-dollar bills, two quarters, two dimes, and three pennies on him. THAT would be serendiptitious.
Now, YOU having exactly six one-dollar bills, two quarters, two dimes, and three pennies on your person might or might not be strange, depending on whether you were in Philadelphia or London.
If it were ME, on the third hand, instead of John Cusack ( who des indeed occasionally enter a 7-11 , or so I am led to believe ) or you, well, in the first place , I wouldn’t have Drew Barrymore or anyone ELSE for that matter waiting ion the car for me, and in the second place, I’m flat dead broke so I wouldn’t have the three pounds forty-four OR the exactly six one-dollar bills, two quarters, two dimes, and three pennies on me.
And besides, I don’t like Twinkies.
March 14th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
Oh, but you’re right- SOMETIMES it happens. And it’s a tiny little bit of magic when it does, isn’t it?
I would hate for you to think that I am not enjoying your blogging, attitude, insights, songs, and humor. Gotta be positive somewhere along the line;)
March 14th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
well, i liked it. stuff like that does happen. it happens to me sometimes - although not the Drew Barrymore bit - and when it does i have a little smile to myself.
not today though. today was one of those days where the train doors close just before you get there and you have to stand looking at your reflection in them as the train slowly pulls away.
note to city folk: where you come from that may not seem a big deal, but where i live the trains only come every half hour so that sliding doors moment is the difference between being at work on time and not.
it’s ok though. the other things that happened today had more bearing.
March 14th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
For the record, Cliff, I enjoyed the story. For more reasons than are apparant.
And, Ed, funny that you mentioned serendipity. On purpose, I’m sure.
March 14th, 2006 at 9:10 pm
I have no idea what you are talking about.
;)