Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The Loss Of My Good Friend $Bill

I went to the beach yesterday. We had a great time. I took my daughter, (my son is away at camp) and we met my cousin and her children at Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA. It was an awesome beach day. The sun was shining, the temps were in the 80's and all was well. My cousin expertly packed a cooler full of good stuff; sandwich meats, bread, fresh fruit, Doritos, Fritos, soda, water, juice bags and other assorted snacks. We had lunch and spent the afternoon fighting the rising tide. You would think that we had everything we needed for a perfect day right at our finger tips. Almost everything.

Across the street from the beach parking lot there is a board walk with lots of ice cream stands, gift shops and clam shacks. So what's a trip to Nantasket beach without an ice cream cone to complete the day? And I always say,"When in Rome...". We decided the time for ice cream had come, so I wrapped a towel around my waist, put on my flip-flops and went up to the car to grab some money. I took a $20 dollar bill from my wallet, and since I was wearing a bathing suit, flip flops and towel, I folded the $20 and put it into the bra of my bathing suit for safe keeping.

Yes I did. This is something I have done a thousand times before.

I stooped at the bath house to go to the bathroom, washed my hands and as I was staring into the mirror, I noticed the money just barely peeking out of the top of my bathing suit, securely. I came out, met the group and off we went to get the summer treat. We walked a mere 1/4 of a mile to the ice cream stand and when I got there I reached down for the $20 dollar bill and it was GONE!!!!!!
I know it wasn't lost in the top of my bathing suit because there was no hiding anywhere in that suit, so I un-wrapped my towel to see if it had somehow fallen in between, but there was no such luck. It was then that I realized that it must have fallen out somewhere between the bath house and the ice cream shack and that with all the people walking around I could be more than sure that someone had picked it up in the few minutes since I made the walk over.

Now I know what you're thinking, no big deal, right? Yeah, there were a few moments of the "no big deal" thinking going through my head, but those were quickly replaced with feelings of complete loss. I was pissed. I was more pissed at myself for being so irresponsible. What a dumb-ass!! Granted, I had more money in the car, and that on the walk back to the car the lost money was no where to be found, but I couldn't help feel bad about it. What would I tell my daughter? What kind of example am I as a mother??? Most of all I missed my friend, Mr. $20 dollar bill.

We got the ice cream, but somehow it wasn't as good as should have been and I couldn't get my mind off my good friend $Bill. I though about $Bill while I swam with the kids in the big waves and rode the surf, laughing. I thought about $Bill as we watched an awesome Tall Ship (they were in Boston over the weekend) sail by on the horizon. I thought about $Bill as we sunbathed and my cousin and I told funny stories to our kids about our childhood. I thought about $Bill as I watched an old man in dirty, tattered clothing retrieving bottles and cans from the trash bin and I suddenly realized that $Bill was probably in a better place.

I decided that I didn't need to beat myself up over my irresponsibility any longer. Maybe $Bill became someone else's good friend. It's possible $Bill helped someone through a tough time or provided them with an essential they needed. Maybe $Bill fed a hungry child or made someone happy. I can live with that. I wont think about the other possibilities. I'll just think about my good friend $Bill doing Gods work, helping someone in need. It's the best way to deal with the loss of such a good friend.

13 comments:

The Dental Maven said...

Poor $Bill's had a rough year. He's been stretched and squeezed and the dude's been spent too! We all gotta cut him a break.

will said...

I've heard stories about women who tuck paper money into their bras. Of course, I've never met such a woman.

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Bill-I knew that comment was coming at some point.

will said...

AND ALWAYS TAKE YOUR CAMERA WITH YOU!

You just never know when that prize winning picture will appear.

SkylersDad said...

Sorry about that. I needed the money, and since I have the hands of a Ninja...

Slyde said...

ouch! when i lose money i go postal.. it drives me completely wonky.

John D. said...

A very commendable point of view, Ms. Dandy, and in all probability, it either made some child's day by finding it, or perhaps did help someone less fortunate than yourself.

A couple of weeks ago (according to eyewitness accounts) some good-looking blonde backed over the hood of my car and took off after no apparent consideration to doing the right thing and leaving me any contact information. After processing what had happened and my initial reaction of anger at her irresponsibility, my next thought was, "well, bad karma for her." But looking a little deeper, I thought, maybe this is my own bad karma coming back to bite me in the ass for some wrong that I had done to someone. All speculative, but made the incident a bit easier to swallow.

We should take care in what we think and say. You chose an empowering meaning for your misfortune. Good for you. : )

Chris said...

What a drag. You still got your ice cream, though, right? That's the important thing.

Just convince yourself that some kid found that money and used it to buy a new puppy who she'll love and cherish forever.

Either that, or some bum found it, spent it all on booze, and passed out under the pier.

JennyMac said...

Money in the bra....fancy! You probably did make someone's entire day. And maybe you will find a new friend Bill...:)

Cora said...

Your bathing suit bra is like the Bermuda Triangle.

*wink*

I hope $Bill is doing some good in the world.

Fancy Schmancy said...

I'm really glad you came to the conclusion that $Bill is in a better place and helping somebody. Cause I would have been $Furious!

Scope said...

But $Bill left with a $MILE on his face! :-) [B(.)(.)Bs]

Anonymous said...

I am sobbing openly right now at the heartfelt warmth of this story. I am sorry for your loss.

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