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Health and Wellness

Envelope reaches back 40 years

I opened this envelope, addressed to me almost 40 years ago, yesterday afternoon. Inside was a $2 bill and Kennedy half-dollar. The note, written by mom, says they were given to me by my maternal grandparents.

If there is significance to August 10 it is escaping me. It is a few months from my birthday. And I was a few weeks away from starting kindergarten.

This $2.50 is remarkable to me because:

  • I have very few possessions that once belonged to my maternal grandparents.
  • The dollar is emblematic of an amazing investment they made for me in terms of the generous contributions they made to my college education.
  • My mom was able to safely keep this envelope through several house moves. She gave it to me a couple of years ago and I promptly set it on a shelf and forgot about it.
  • I might want to stash a couple of treasures for my kids to open in four decades.

I have some remarkable memories of my grandparents and it has been fun to think about them deciding to give me a $2 bill (and presumably my sisters and cousins) and coin. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

By Greg Friese

Greg Friese, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is an author, educator, paramedic, and marathon runner.

Greg was the co-host of the award winning EMSEduCast podcast, the only podcast by and for EMS educators. Greg has written for EMS1.com, JEMS.com, Wilderness Medical Associates, JEMS Magazine, EMSWorld.com and EMS World Magazine, and the NAEMSE Educator Newsletter.