The stupid laundry machine stole my quarters today. Annoying. But I was looking at my quarters before I used them. In the 20 some odd quarters I grabbed for laundry (remember the machine stole 6 quarters) I came across 4 1974 quarters. For some reason I couldn't use them. Seemed coincidental. I also couldn't use the 1979 quarter and the 1997 quarters. Year I was born and the year I graduated high school. Only two years that seem to hold any meaning for me.

I don't collect quarters so I have no idea what I'll do with them, although my father collects Bicentennial Quarters. I have 9 of them sitting here stacked in the apartment for the next time I see him. Its a funny hobby, but every time I have a quarter in my hands I check to see if it is a Bicentennial Quarter, so I can save it for my father. I've been saving Bicentennials Quarters since I was old enough to recognize them. Before I even knew what the Bicentennial was. When I was a kid I was so excited with every Bicentennial Quarter I found, because I could give it to my father and he would give me two regular quarters back for it. Double my investment. He always said they would become rarer and rarer as the years go on. I really think I'll be picking out Bicentennial Quarters for the rest of my life. And I'll always think of my father every time I am handed a quarter.

I wonder if he knows how ingrained this for me. Or how much I actually enjoy separating out Bicentennial Quarters to hold for him. I'm not even sure if he avidly collects them anymore. But I smile with every new quarter I hold.