Yesterday, while going to get water, I noticed that the machine was loaded with an extra $1.65, which I collected when I pushed the coin return. I’ve always checked for change in whatever vending machine I happen to be using, and I always push the coin return.
As I see it, I just scored another 225 days of good luck.
Many years ago, when I was a starving student in the dorms at UCLA, I tried to show off a bit, taking
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| Crab Cooker Menu, circa 1985 |
my Sacramento bred hot looking red-headed girlfriend Linda to Balboa Island. We walked along the shore, admiring the homes of the wealthy, but I had spent my last $10 on a cheap dinner of clam chowder, Shepard’s bread and ice tea at the Crab Cooker (and I likely sent a postcard to my Mom-they were free) and was wondering if I’d have enough gas to get back to Westwood. It was Saturday in the Spring, and we were by the Balboa Pavilion, a favorite for local high school proms. Up ahead of us, I spied a pair of couples in formal wear walking along, and I saw something fall out of one boy’s pocket as he took his hand out to paw his date. They were beyond shouting distance, and then turned a corner, and as we walked up, I saw his $20.
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| Free Postcard |
In the mid 80s, that was enough to ride the ferry to Balboa Island for Balboa Bars and a half-tank of gas, more than enough to get back to Westwood. I don’t think Linda realized how close we were to thumbing it back to campus, and I know I got just as lucky as that Prom couple.
My son was an expert at looking down, usually finding change and often finding dollar bills while out for his runs. One time he ran across my daughter’s homework fluttering away in the wind, and was able to return it to her later that day at school.
On the high school campus where I taught, I’d come across change fairly often too. I’d leave the pennies and nickels, but I was willing to bend over for a dime or more, and certainly for any paper money. I probably found around $50 in the 27 years I worked there.
I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older that I don’t find as much money as before. I think it has something to do with the
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| Can you identify this? |
ease that young people have at paying electronically. But three weeks ago, while walking the dog, I saw $100 bill across the street from Singing Son Coffee. Unlike my date 40 years ago, when I had some doubt about getting home, I looked around to see if there were any likely candidates to claim the money, but no one was nearby. I suppose that I could have walked into Singing Son and asked if anyone dropped $100, but that seemed silly.
So I’ll keep looking down as I walk. You never know.
Where Have I been?
Glad you asked!
After my last post about Neil Young in August, I headed to Portugal and Spain, walking the Camino de Santiago. After that, I spent a few days in Madrid, to live my Hemingway dreams and watch a bullfight at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, as well as visit El Rastro and Botin, among other things.
From there, I met up with my son in Seoul, taking in tons of street food at various markets, as well as learning all about K-Pop Demon Hunters.
I took a month and circumnavigated the globe. I entertained the idea of posting about the Camino, but couldn't figure out an angle. I wrote a novella in the last part of 2025, and I've been trying to figure out what to post since. Look for more thoughts on coffee soon!
