Pennies from Heaven

There is a saying that a penny saved is a penny earned. But inflation has taken a big bite out of the value of our hard currencies. Even in a recessionary time like now, no one would pick stray coins on the street, particularly the pennies.

The other day, there were many reddish coins strewn all over a parking lot outside a coffee shop. Since I am a firm believer of the good luck these errant copper pieces can bring to the persons who keep them, I, a self-professed penny pincher, decided to put these orphans to some good use. So I bent down and got all of them from the wet ground. Except this time I did not put them into my pocket to add them to my lucky penny jar later. I decided to share my new found fortune with a stranger.

About this person, he might be a panhandler. But I would not say he looked scruffy or unkempt. Somehow he did seem to be by the coffee shop a lot. That day, he was at his usual place, a spot a couple feet from the entrance to the store. In the past whenever I walked by him there after I got my coffee from the shop, he always muttered a few words asking for some spare changes. It surprised me on that day, this individual did nothing to these shining coins either. Perhaps he was not as bad-off as I thought. But he did accept my heavenly offerings with good humor. Hopefully, this humble gesture of mine will bring many good tidings this individual needs so he can live a better life that he deserves. - Ayee

Peace on Earth

It’s a known fact that dogs and cats do not normally get along. Many cats got badly injured from their face-off with Fidos. There were also dogs who learned in a hard and painful way to leave certain Fifis alone. This is why sometimes we would say people fighting like dogs and cats. But what I heard recently of four cuddly furry ones has proved this saying hogwash. This two-dog and two-cat team get along peacefully. Matter of fact, one of the doggies, I speculate because of his pint size, not only thinks himself a kitty, acts like one too.

Lucy, a mid-size mongrel, is the oldest of the bunch. She should be credited for igniting the pet fever in her two-legged friends. One day many years ago, she followed a relative of her adoptive family home. And the rest is history. Evidently, this gentle pooch had brought immeasurable pleasure to a family that never had a single pet before. After Lucy’s arrival, her family added two cats and a small terrier named Cody to its household. Without much ado, this furry quartet has adapted to each other rather well and lived under one roof harmoniously thereafter.

Then days after this hairy group settled down nicely in their new home, empty cookie packages started to appear on the kitchen floor in the morning. The family thought of their two cookie-loving pooches the prime suspects of the crime. But the inviting morsels were high up on the counter top. And neither dog can jump that high a distance to reach the counter. Finally, the cookie bandit,rather bandits were nabbed. In the wee hours one night, Bonnie and Clyde in feline costume were seen on the counter stealthily pushing the package of cookies to the slobbering Cassidy and the Kid below. - Ayee

Money makes the world go around

It’s this time of the year again.

Recently, I experienced some kind of epiphany about giving to charities.

Since our economy is still in the doldrums, and the unemployment rates are at a record high level, creating new jobs is now on the top of politicians’ to do list. The bad job markets also put many of us in a more vulnerable position as far as our future employment is concerned. And likely we may not be as generous as we used to be to others. But do not despair. There is another way we can do to help many unfortunate neighbors. We can follow what the governments around the world had done. Individually, we can also improve the sacking economy by spending within our means.

We all know there is a profound multiplying effect from our spending on goods and services. As you can see that our constant support to various business prompts the business owners to hire more employees. More working people translates to more spending and more spending means more money in people’s pockets, etc., etc . . .

Money, the medium of exchange, indeed makes the world go around.
-Ayee