Here’s a ditty we used to sing in my house when I was a kid:
Abraham Lincoln, kind and good,
he’s honored and loved by many.
To help us remember this president,
we put his face on our penny.
Big deal about the penny, right? The coin most chosen to be flattened by a train. And apparently, at times, depending on the cost of metal, it costs more than a penny to make a penny. Well, it sort-of is an honor then, I suppose.
In my house, we always loved pennies and fivers because my sister, Sarah The Great (she used to make us all call her that) was born on Abe’s birthday. So, we felt a kinship with him. I think as a result of her connection with Abe, she developed a deep love of cash. She was always counting her money.
Once when she was little, tired of old Abe and the dull copper, she set up a table outside of the house and sold her pennies. What was the going rate for a penny in the early 70s? A quarter. She announced the deal at the top of her lungs to the neighbors. “Pennies for a quarter. Pennies for a quarter.”
This amused our oldest sister Lisa who knew something about the value of money. Lisa was laughing about it when a neighbor approached Sarah’s stand and bought a penny. Oh, was Lisa ever annoyed by that. It wasn’t right. She pointed Sarah’s little scam out to our dad who inspected Sarah’s booth and promptly bought a penny for himself. Oh, now Lisa was downright mad. Then someone else strolling along thought it was cute and bought a penny. I think after that Sarah figured it was a pretty good day and closed up shop. Or maybe she was just curious about what Lisa was shouting about in the house.
This is just one of the many reasons why she’s Sarah The Great. I wanted to get her this rug for her birthday, but instead I gave her cash. Oh, how that girl loves cash.
Sarah the Great said,
February 13, 2007 at 12:39 am
Ahhh, I feel better now and you made it just under the wire, oh dutiful one. What I really mean is thanks so much. I love you!!!
julieluongo said,
February 13, 2007 at 12:41 am
Oh, it’s not about me being a good sister and a stellar human being…no, not at all. It’s about you being those things.
Sarah said,
February 13, 2007 at 12:48 am
xxxxxoooooo
Bunche said,
February 13, 2007 at 1:44 am
The Lincoln rhyme I recall went like this:
Abraham Lincoln was a good old man
He washed his face in a frying pan
He jumped out the window with a stick in his hand
And said, “Excuse me, man, but I’m Superman”
Don’t ask me what the hell that means, but it would have made for a great bit of non sequitor animation.
julieluongo said,
February 13, 2007 at 1:59 am
That was old Dan Tucker who washed his face in a frying pan. He also combed his hair with a wagon wheel and died with a toothpick in his heel….oh, get out the way of old Dan Tucker, he’s too late to have his supper, supper’s over and dinner’s cooking, old Dan Tucker just stand there lookin’.
I was always confused about the supper-dinner thing. I always thought they referenced the same meal. And combing his hair with a wagon wheel? Was he a giant? I’ll get out of his way if he is.
KC said,
February 13, 2007 at 9:32 am
that rug is pimp. i want that rug.
Jenn said,
February 13, 2007 at 10:00 am
I always liked the one that went:
One bright day in the middle of the night,
Two dead boys got up to fight.
Back to back they faced each other,
drew their swords and shot each other.
A deaf policeman heard the noise
and ran to save the two dead boys.
And if you don’t believe it’s true,
go ask the blind man, he saw it too.
Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH THE GREAT!!!!
Matt Lesoine said,
February 13, 2007 at 10:34 am
When I was younger, we had 3 meals: breakfast, lunch, and supper. Then somewhere along the line (maybe when I first went to elementary school) the concept of “dinner” appeared. It was totally odd to me.
Dinner could mean lunch OR supper. But I believe that it was basically reserved for a somewhat formal meal served for a purpose (reception, celebration, etc) that could be at any time between noon and 7 or 8 o’clock. Wow. Imagine my confusion when we would eat a “dinner” at say 1:00, and then later on still have “supper” at 6 or 7 o’clock?!? This was before I could understand the whole time-telling thing. I also used to think that dinner and supper were both referring to the evening meal. It really raises a few eyebrows when you’re invited to dinner, and expect it to be at suppertime; but end up being 5 hours late since it was actually a lunchtime-dinner.
And that my friends is why I hate the term “dinner” and prefer the much cozier supper when discussing the evening meal. Someday, someone, somewhere will figure me out…..
Heather said,
February 13, 2007 at 11:38 am
WHOA! Jenn: My mom used to say that ALL THE TIME, but I completely forgot until I read it just now. You made my day! Hooray! I hope someone remembers that the song about Old Dan Tucker was best performed by Victor French, aka Mr. Edwards on Little House. Someone? Anyone? Just me? Alright.
julieluongo said,
February 13, 2007 at 12:03 pm
I love those dead boys fighting! I never heard that one, which is odd since I thought my mom had the lock down on all morbid folk poems, stories, and songs.
Jenn said,
February 13, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Momma, I can’t believe you never heard that!
spanky said,
February 19, 2007 at 10:47 am
I try to eat all day. i cannot be confined to actuall meal times. or names. I just call it “im hungry go get me the tostitos”
im a classy girl.