When I was kid a penny meant something. A small empty soda bottle was worth two cents; a quart bottle got you a nickel. Often a friend and I would split the two cents deposit if we found a bottle. Sometimes a grownup sitting on the stoop would finish a soda and give the empty bottle to a neighborhood kid. The lucky kid so blessed thought a millionaire had given him a fortune. In an early time, John D. Rockefellers shiny new dimes could not hold a candle to an empty soda bottle. Sad to say the penny has fallen on hard times: Canada Stops Making Cents as Flaherty Lets Penny Drop By Greg Quinn - May 4, 2012 2:20 PM ET http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-04/canada-stops-making-cents-as-flaherty-lets-penny-drop.html There has also been talk about dumping the American penny. Penny-haters and wastrels say a penny costs more to mint than it is worth. I do not believe it. It might be true if the penny was used one time only, but it is used over and over again. The penny was always a part of America. Old Ben Franklin himself told us A penny saved is twopence dear. more commonly known as As a penny saved is a penny earned. Getting rid of the penny is like getting rid of Ben Franklin. In addition to everything else there is a wonderful philosophy connected to the penny. I just cant help thinking that when the penny goes sunshine and flowers will go, too: Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven Don'tcha know each cloud contains pennies from heaven? You'll find your fortune fallin' all over town Be sure that your umbrella Is upside down Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers If you want the things you love, you must have showers So when you hear it thunder Don't run under a tree There'll be pennies from heaven for you and me Every time it rains, it rains Pennies from heaven Don't cha know each cloud contains Pennies from heaven? You'll find you fortune fallin' All over town Be sure that your umbrella Is upside down Trade them for a package of sunshine and flowers If you want the things you love you must have showers So when you hear it thunder Don't run under a tree There'll be pennies from heaven for you and for me http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=m1-FYahFTYo
