Nickel and Dimed

When my Mother was very young, she and her younger brother were each given a coin to buy some penny candy. My Mom got a dime and Uncle Jim received a nickel. Since Jim’s coin was bigger, my Mom uncharacteristically put up a big fuss and was allowed to trade with Jim. I use the word “uncharacteristically” because this was apparently when she learned the value of not complaining every time life seems to throw you a curve ball. She remembered this lesson well and told the story on herself at appropriate times. We are often eager to complain about things even if we have no idea whether they are worth complaining about. Of course, I never learned anything from the story and probably complained about hearing it. I would have been much more impressed if someone had ended up with the whole fifteen cents. I pass it on here for others who are more high minded than me.

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