Have you ever read the stories in Ann Landers or Dear Abby about pennies from heaven? They are stories that readers share about finding pennies in unusual circumstances, and it is believed that the pennies are a gift from a loved one who has died.
I loved reading these stories in the newspaper. I always believed them, and have wanted to find signs like this in my own life.
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| Papa Hart riding the carousel with Erin to celebrate his 90th birthday. |
In 2008, my grandpa, George Hart died. I knew that he had read those stories in Ann Landers' columns, and I was hoping that I might find a sign from him. I know that signs can come in many forms- maybe a bird outside your window, or a special song that you hear at meaningful times. I waited and waited. And then, I noticed that I was finding dimes. There would be a dime laying on the floor of my bedroom, or one by my car in the parking lot. I thought maybe this was something, but I wasn't sure.
And then:
In December of 2010, we were going to school for the kids' Christmas program. I took Katie to her classroom, and she said, "Wait a minute, I want you to take something." she reached in her desk, opened her pencil box, and took out a dime. When she handed it to me, I could hardly breathe. "Where did you get this?" I asked. "It was really weird," she said. "I brought this pencil box from home, and when I got to school there was a dime in it. I don't know how it got in there."
This was all the proof I needed. My grandpa came to every school concert for my girls- from their preschool to Katie's kindergarten Pilgrim Play. How the dime got there, or why Katie thought about it that night, right before her concert, I have no idea. But it made me think about Papa Hart.
I keep finding dimes. Sometimes it might be a coincidence. Other times.... I don't know. One morning I was getting ready for work, and I was taking a poetry book with me that my Grandma and Grandpa Hart had given me. I started reading it, and even though I needed to leave I kept reading one more poem, one more poem. Finally I looked up from the book, and there- behind the front door and clear up next to the wall was a dime.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had not found a dime in a while, and since then I have found three and Jeff has found one.
Why dimes? I don't know. I think that perhaps pennies are too common, and Grandpa wanted to be sure I noticed. Or perhaps he thought a dime was more special, more dignified. That sounds like him to me.
I think that my grandma is probably in on this too- I can imagine the two of them working together and having fun with this.
And then:
In December of 2010, we were going to school for the kids' Christmas program. I took Katie to her classroom, and she said, "Wait a minute, I want you to take something." she reached in her desk, opened her pencil box, and took out a dime. When she handed it to me, I could hardly breathe. "Where did you get this?" I asked. "It was really weird," she said. "I brought this pencil box from home, and when I got to school there was a dime in it. I don't know how it got in there."
This was all the proof I needed. My grandpa came to every school concert for my girls- from their preschool to Katie's kindergarten Pilgrim Play. How the dime got there, or why Katie thought about it that night, right before her concert, I have no idea. But it made me think about Papa Hart.
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| Papa holding baby Katie. |
I keep finding dimes. Sometimes it might be a coincidence. Other times.... I don't know. One morning I was getting ready for work, and I was taking a poetry book with me that my Grandma and Grandpa Hart had given me. I started reading it, and even though I needed to leave I kept reading one more poem, one more poem. Finally I looked up from the book, and there- behind the front door and clear up next to the wall was a dime.
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| These are some of the dimes I have found. |
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had not found a dime in a while, and since then I have found three and Jeff has found one.
Why dimes? I don't know. I think that perhaps pennies are too common, and Grandpa wanted to be sure I noticed. Or perhaps he thought a dime was more special, more dignified. That sounds like him to me.
I think that my grandma is probably in on this too- I can imagine the two of them working together and having fun with this.
I love my grandparents- all of them- and I am so happy to think that they are still connected to my life.
What do you think? Is it real? Is it nothing? Has it ever happened to you?
For me it's cardinals. I usually notice when I'm on a morning run. It seems especially when I'm mentally working through a tough issue. I don't know they're there until I hear the familiar chirp. There was one singing to me the morning after Grandma died on a power line above where I had stopped to stretch.
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