A Peek Inside My Vault

I stopped putting pictures in my wallet years ago because they would soon become worn and ruined.  And now you can keep thousands on your cell phone, why weigh yourself down or risk spinal troubles with a thick billfold?  I do, however, keep some stuff permanently in my wallet as these following artifacts attest.  

This was given to me by Rose Medina, Counselor and Probation Officer, Extraordinaire.  She hails from the Hollers of Tennessee but lived in Bushnell, IL and became a lifelong worker for the 9th Judicial Circuit in Knox County.  I was in Swanie's once with Rosita, but I believe Swanie's is no more.  See how little things are important,Rose?  I always liked this because it is a guy at the bottom but hanging around to see what will/could happen next  (the scanner didn't do a very good job, but you get the idea).  I've had it maybe twenty years?  Can't toss it now, can I?

There is a phrase now called "owning it", which pretty much means "if you did it, admit it".  I carry this in my billfold to remind me to own up to my mistakes.  It is scratched without much polish because I heard it on the radio from someone and wanted to get it down on paper before I forgot it.  This is what you tell someone when you screw up.  It disarms them and you are taking responsibility.  "It's dreadful.  I don't know what came over me.  It'll never happen again."  Had this as a reminder to "do right" and had it in my wallet maybe 10 - 15 years.

This little blacked out piece of scribble is something a bit more private and probably remain so for a while longer.  I won't type its contents here, suffice to say, I was really down this day and it was a plea, basically, for the pain to end.  'Nuff said.  I keep it now to remind me that things can always be worse.

And we'll end this little exercise with this from daughter Kenzie, who always brightens my day.  It was a Father's Day card she bought and wrote on, after I was probably a bit dismayed at the lack of something I perceived from whatever.  I keep it now to remind me how respected and loved I am from her.   There is no date so can only speculate but it has to be maybe 16-17 years old.

And then there are the wonderful pictures from the DMV people.  Bless their hearts.  Proving once again the aging process isn't a battle, it's a massacre.

What's In Your Wallet?