Saving Money

I am an avid goal setter. I usually have a weekly to do list, sometimes daily, depending. I write letters to myself on my birthday, to be opened in a years time, five years, ten, etc. They not only include what I did that day and where I am in life, but also a list of goals I hope to accomplish by the specifed age. It's always fun to read them and see what I've done and what I haven't. Some things are a bit more of a wish than a goal, such as hiking the Grand Canyon rim to rim, but this goal is still included in every letter. Wouldn't it be funny if I hiked GRCA the day before my 75th birthday so I knew I'd at least done one thing on my list? There might be snow on the north rim....but I digress.

One of my long term (ten-years) goal was finally realized Wednesday, September 16th. It was an exciting moment. I was in Bear's House (room in my folks house, long story), sitting on the couch, when my mom walks in and hands me a particular item, and says, "Arizona." I was thrilled beyond all reason.

Starting in 1999, when I was still in high school, I began collecting the state quarters. One week ago, I accomplished my goal of collecing all fifty, and the DC quarter. It was a grand and glorious moment when Arizona, the last state I needed, was placed in my hand.

The picture shows all the quarters. I know you can't really see them individually, but trust me, they are all there. In the same box where I keep my quarters, I also have other coins from different countries and my penny collection. Pennies, you might ask? I have a penny that was made in every year since I was born. I plan on having a total of 103 pennies to pass on to my children. Whenever Congress talks about doing away with the penny, I cringe. What would I save then?

Oh, and anyone interested in helping me accomplish my Grand Canyon goal?