Em reached down and picked up a coin. “Hold out your hand,” he said to me as he placed a penny onto my palm. My memory immediately played the rhyme, Find a penny pick it up and all the day, you’ll have good luck. Many are familiar with this little magic moment. But the rhyme continues, But your luck will never end, if you give it to a friend.It’s a great sentiment—good fortune being passed on. I smiled.

Picking up an orphan penny is a customary practice for us. It’s not a habit. That would imply some repeated action without consciousness or thought. That’s not the case here. No. Each of us participates consciously in this important little ritual—transferring good fortune. If this holds true for pennies . . . couldn’t it be the same for friends? We think so. Here’s an example:

A couple of years ago we came across two delightful people we hadn’t expected to meet. Just like a penny, shining in the sunshine, something caught our eye—something not quite ordinary, something “glimmering.” So we seized the opportunity and captured that lucky moment. It was a pretty typical day. Morning espresso at our favorite coffee bar and there they were. Shining. Really. You know some people just have a glow like that. Marilyn and Ann glow.

After brief introductions, we exchanged some casual conversation that hinted at something more. So we invited those two “friendly strangers” to join us at our place for an impromptu lunch. We relaxed and talked like old friends in the shade of the grape arbor, overlooking the rolling hills. It was as though a penny on its edge rolled right up to our toes and all we had to do was bend down to scoop it up. What a delightful afternoon we had!!

Since that day, we’ve grown the friendship, mostly through email. We’ve enjoyed brief exchanges of humor, comments and even some advice. Then last week we made a road trip down the California coast. Coincidentally, we were passing right through the town where Marilyn lives. Unfamiliar with the local geography, we decided to meet at a park and then go for coffee so we could talk and catch up a bit. After a pleasantly giddy reunion on that sunny morning, we strolled down to the local coffee bar. As we crossed the road to go in the door, Em saw something shiny on the pavement. He bent down and scooped up a penny. He nudged me on the arm and handed it to me. Wow! Another lucky penny. Found. Shared. Never-ending good fortune. I smiled at him and then turned to Marilyn. How lucky we are that her journey’s path crossed ours—rolled right up to our toes, compelling us to reach out. She’s indeed one of our lucky pennies—a bit of magic and good fortune!

Days later, on our return trip up the coast from California’s southern cities, we stopped again halfway up the coast for a quick lunch on our way home. As we walked across a short alley toward the walkway, we chatted, and in the course of my conversation I said, “I hope so.” Evidently, as I uttered the word hope, Em’s gaze fixed on something on the sidewalk—another lucky penny! Without fanfare he casually reached down and picked it up. Turning to me, he said with a mischievous grin on his face, “Hold out your hand.”

There’s definitely something mysterious and engaging happening here!

Posted on February 12, 2011

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