Seven Cents

Walking with my dog along a margin between a road and town setting with a wooded area woven along its edge.

 

Seven cents

Strolling along familiar well known path

 with my dogie-friend Violet.

We cross the empty Car wash border.

But today my attention is caught

 

by glistening upon oily damp asphalt.

Laying before my feet is a gift.

 

Looking closer, bending down:

I have discovered

 a nickel and two pennies, 

Seven cents.

Today is special.

 Why?

 I possess a newfound treasure.

How many gifts, how many times

 have I acknowledged, or not,

 the humble gift? 

 

How do I measure value?

Is my gratitude meter fine tuned?

For life is experienced in the day by day; 

in the small things.

What defines value;

 accumulation of experiences

 as time continues on?

How many lessons are claimed 

or cast aside,

 treasured and used

 or abandoned?

Author's Note

dialogue of what is real....right now.

Reviews

[Delmar Cooper]

Too cool, everybody loves finding something, glad you scored the seven cents. Another really cool thing is leaving something for someone else to find. I have nieces and nephews, a hive full, and at one time they buzzed about like bees, unstoppable, full of energy and still capable of wonder, just the way I like em', fat and juicy. I found a gift shop that sold arrowheads, probably made by sweat shop Chinese Indians, but good looking arrowheads. I bought two handfuls of these things and salted my vegetable patch with these "relics." After Sunday dinner I suggested to the hive that they might find an arrowhead now that I had plowed the garden and we'd had a rain. The rest is history. I leave quarters on the sidewalk at Wal- Mart and watch people pick them up from the safety of my car, sometimes I don't even superglue them to the pavement. That's just the kind of guy I am.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Delmar Coooper,
What a fun thing to do: "salt your vegetable patch with relics'. hee, hee....Yes having youngsters about is wonderful! Thanks for the info-ful review of a little glimpse of kindness to and for others.
Bless you!
Kathy

[Kent Rawski]

I like your writing your thoughts expressed but even more your intent You have a lot within you glad you invited me as a friend just want to add so many respond to you by giving out to others it lets others in

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Kent Rawski,
You have an openess which is warm. Staying pliable as one ages is important but worth the effort. Not always easy. Thank you for your kindness.
And I hope you are open to good and find it in eveery avenue of life.
BLessings,
Kathy

[Kent Rawski]

I like your writing your thoughts expressed but even more your intent You have a lot within you glad you invited me as a friend

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Kent Rawski,
Your own writing is lovely with much food for thought. Your welcome. I guess that learning more about life ad writing is my goal.

[alanwgraham]

great Kathy- there is much wisdom here. I like the way you have moved from an everyday discovery of a few coins to a more general observation of human nature. It is the unexpected experiences of this wonderful world that catch us unawares. It is often human interactions that give us faith in the positive aspects of life. It is often too easy to focus on all the problems in life.
It is always uplifting to read your Writing.
All the best.
Alan

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Alan,
Your point is well taken; "It is often too easy to focus on all the problems in life." Isn't it wonderful to read in others the understanding that we are many times more alike than different? Love your review. Keep up the ability to interact and identify with others. It is a true gift!
Blessings,
Kathy

[Roger Turgeon]

And how many possible experiences go un-noticed? There that's my two cents. Now you have 9

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Roger,
You have a point. Not only do little special things possibly go unappreciated tool We forget but how about the accumulation of these tiniest bits of light which are beautiful. Thank you for your thoughtful input.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Fran Marie]

The small things can have a greater value than we might think..its beautiful the way you have expressed this lovely piece in its simplicity...well done..

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Fran Marie,
I like that....the accumulation of 'small things' which add up to treasures.

[VALORMORE DE PLUME]

Be Here Now. Stop fretting for yesteryear, or tomorrow.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Valormore,
Yes, point well taken. Looking, seeing at what may be right before one's eyes...blessings that are just waiting. Stop fretting...but I also think that sometimes it is part of growth and just the process of growth and maturity.
Bless you.
Kathy

[angel]

Seven cents... I used to work at a car wash, and one of my jobs was emptying the vacuum cleaners. I found lots of change in there, and on one memorable occasion, a ten dollar bill! Very nice piece of work, miss Kathy.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

angel,
Every day holds gems of experience. I hope we always see these precious experiences. I love your story and thanks for commenting!
Kathy

[J-Suk's Hyeongni]

This is a wonderful poem! I remember there is a famous story from my country that goes like this

"A little boy went to his old grandpa and asked, "What's the value of life?"

The grandpa gave him one stone and said, "Find out the value of this stone, but don't sell it."

The boy took the stone to an Orange Seller and asked him what its cost would be.

The Orange Seller saw the shiny stone and said, "You can take 12 oranges and give me the stone."

The boy apologized and said that the grandpa has asked him not to sell it.

He went ahead and found a vegetable seller.

"What could be the value of this stone?" he asked the vegetable seller.

The seller saw the shiny stone and said, "Take one sack of potatoes and give me the stone."

The boy again apologized and said he can't sell it.

Further ahead, he went into a jewelry shop and asked the value of the stone.

The jeweler saw the stone under a lens and said, "I'll give you 1 million for this stone."

When the boy shook his head, the jeweler said, "Alright, alright, take 2 24karat gold necklaces, but give me the stone."

The boy explained that he can't sell the stone.

Further ahead, the boy saw a precious stone's shop and asked the seller the value of this stone.

When the precious stone's seller saw the big ruby, he lay down a red cloth and put the ruby on it.

Then he walked in circles around the ruby and bent down and touched his head in front of the ruby. "From where did you bring this priceless ruby from?" he asked.

"Even if I sell the whole world and my life, I won't
be able to purchase this priceless stone."

Stunned and confused, the boy returned to the grandpa and told him what had happened.

"Now tell me what is the value of life, grandpa?"

Grandpa said,

"The answers you got from the Orange Seller, the Vegetable Seller, the Jeweler & the Precious Stone's Seller explain the value of our life...

You may be a precious stone, even priceless, but, people will value you based on their intellectual status, their level of information, their belief in you, their motive behind entertaining you, their ambition, their risk-taking ability & ultimately their caliber.

So don't fear, you will surely find someone who will discern your true value."

Respect yourself.

Don't sell yourself cheap.

You are rare, Unique, Original and the only one of our kind.
You are a masterpiece because you are MASTER'S PIECE.

No one can Replace you.
This is for the little boy"

[Kathy Van Kurin]

j-Suk,
Well, thank you for such a lovely response. I write and then you send a story like the above and what a affirmative ruby this story was. It was new to me and I loved it. You have made my whole afternoon with such a generous response. This story reminded me of the value of affirmation toward others as well.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Blessings,
Kathy

[J-Suk's Hyeongni]

Thanks! I am glad you you enjoyed it!

[flaco]

a nice reminder to take pleasure in gifts that may seem to be nothing

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Yes and sometimes it is nice to just be thankful for our lives.

[An owl on the moon]

What a beautiful glimpse of a day, and of sacred treasures that rise when we open our eyes to the glory all around us. Was just thinking yesterday how we miss so much by living in mundane moments, and your words rise to show us that no moment needs to be ordinary.

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Owl on the moon,
You got that right!Are we open to what may be right at our elbow. Some treasure is just waiting. Your review is so right on! I hope you never loose your ability to see glory.

[An owl on the moon]

May we all find those endless blessings around us... every day. :)

[Kathy Van Kurin]

Thank you!