Doing what I can for the little man

by Blair Warren

I’m a creature of habit.

Every morning on my way to work I stop for coffee at the gas station on the corner.  I know all the workers and all the workers know me.  I like it that way.  Kind of makes me feel as if I live in Mayberry.

And every morning my total comes to $1.39.  That’s for a 20 ounce coffee.  Though I could save a few cents and go with a smaller cup, I like to indulge myself. 

But I assure you my daily trip for coffee isn’t just about me.

You see, I rarely have the exact amount so I typically end up with a pocket full of change.

Well, the store has a little “need a penny/leave a penny” tray.  Though I’ve never taken a penny, whenever I end up getting pennies as change, I always leave them. 

It’s usually just a single penny, but a few times it’s been as many as six or even eleven.  Doesn’t sound like much, but multiply this out over the 3 years I’ve been doing this and we’re talking probably 15 or 20 dollars.  And that’s nothing to sneeze at when you consider I don’t know who’ll be using the pennies or what they’ll be using them for.

Now I realize it’s easy for people to think I’m bragging here.  Sure, Mr. Moneybags buys the *big* cup of coffee and then portrays himself as an altruist so he doesn’t seem so materialistic. But I assure you I’m not bragging. 

I’m merely trying to show that the wealthier I become, the more I can do for the little people.  And it feels good.  In fact, tomorrow I may leave a quarter.

Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 06:40 PM

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