Another Dime – it’s been awhile!

Thanks for the encouragement this morning S.E. Reid. I was hesitating and your post was all I needed to step forward and “just do it anyway”… LOL. To those who have stopped by to read, I continue to be delighted as well as continue to remind readers that these truly are just “little stories” based on a multitude of experiences and explorations of this Crone aka Wise Woman (in training).

Author’s photo - Fall in all her glory

So, here we are again – stepping into another fall season and Canadian Thanksgiving. It’s a time of year when the most spectacular colours appear as though wanting to give us just one last taste of the magic of Mother Nature.

Also another week of “aha” moments as others here at Substack continue to catch my attention.

Prue

writing about “Perfecting” and

Janice Walton

asking “Are You Content with Life”? I’d like to sit and read every single recommendation and interesting looking posts but for now must be “content” with what fits.

Is there significance to finding dimes in our travels?

The Google Library has a LOT of information about the spiritual significance of finding dimes and this post is just one more memory, meandering, musing about an event that took place almost five years ago. But first, a couple of possible meanings:

Finding Dimes: What Could The Spiritual Meaning Be?

I liked their “teaser line”: Aug 16, 2023 — “Dimes are a sign of love from someone who has passed on and it's their way of sending encouragement and peace.”

And another one

Finding Dimes: What Does It Mean? Many people feel that the dimes are a sign of communication from someone that has passed on, letting them know they are not alone.

Part I of the Dime Stories

That “almost five year ago event” unfolded as follows.

Friends and family had been coming and going to say goodbye to their friend, brother, dad, step-dad, uncle, and grandpa. All of us knew that Don’s exit time was quickly approaching because the accident had resulted in an inoperable and life-ending condition. There were moments when we questioned how it was that he could be so cognitive because we also knew there was a massive brain bleed taking place BUT there we were and there he was.

His sister had come, and we had all gone out for dinner. On returning to the hospital Gayle said to one of the boys “I’ll pay for the parking” and of course they said “no, no” but she went ahead and paid it anyway.

To be noted here please – ALL parking machines at the hospital have the same signage in big letters – NO CHANGE GIVEN. BUT…when she put coins into the machine out popped four dimes!

At the time, none of us were aware of the “stories” attached to finding dimes so she proceeded to give us the scoop and relay how very significant she felt it was to have these four dimes drop out at this particular time.

To be noted – Gayle and Don’s other two brothers had passed within the previous year + and their mom and dad had been gone for some time. Serendipity? Other world goings on? For Gayle, and ultimately me (for sure after she told the story), it seemed entirely reasonable that the four dimes were representative of Mom, Dad, George and Jimmy as a way to let all of us know that Don was going to be in good hands, and they were waiting for him.

In truth I don’t remember if that happened one day or two before Don left us but here we are drawing near to the timeline five years later and I’m pretty convinced there have been and continue to be “signs” that he remains close by. There’s a level of comfort that envelopes me when these “signs” unfold and sometimes there’s even laughter that erupts just because of where I might be and/or what else might be unfolding.

Things like:

• My bedroom ceiling fan and light turning on in the middle of the night while I’m sleeping

• The ceiling fan coming on at either low speed or medium speed - sometimes before or after I walk into the room

• A photo from long ago suddenly appearing on my monitor when I activate the screen

• Favourite music playing when I haven’t initiated anything – on my iPhone, iPad and/or TV

• The continuation of dimes appearing unexpectedly. Two favs: (1) in Maui, (2) out of the blue (literally) in an airport and landing at my feet

Part II of the Dime Stories

I’m not suggesting or asking anyone else to buy into any of this with me. When Don was here and I would go off on these explorations he would typically laugh and say things like … “Oh, Marilyn, you and your woo woo”. But Thursday was a two-fold reminder - that he’s still nearby AND that we’re almost at that 5-year anniversary.

I had taken a walk to drop a parcel off at the post-office - thoroughly enjoying the most wonderful exhibition of blue sky and fall colours. As I was heading toward home, I could see someone approaching and it crossed my mind that perhaps it was a sweet friend, Laura, but it was just a little too far away for me to be sure. Then, as we were drawing closer, she stopped and bent to pick something up. I continued moving forward and could suddenly see that it WAS Laura and at the same time we both kind of exclaimed - “aha that IS you”. Naturally, we were delighted to be able to exchange a hug and query after each other’s well-being since we hadn’t seen one another for some time.

Then she told me she had just stopped to pick up a dime she had noticed on the sidewalk.

Signs? Laura and her husband Art had walked with Don and me for over 11 years, sharing life stories and experiences. We met them when we moved here to Chilliwack, and I still consider them to be dear friends. As an elder within the indigenous culture Art has consistently exhibited a strong spiritual practice. I have always appreciated his approach to “looking for the good” in every soul he meets, and he honoured us by coming to our home to perform a traditional smudging ceremony after Don passed. That day he shared about having seen Don in a vision that morning…sitting in a BIG fancy car (Don loved his old Lincoln and Cadillac); kind of shaking his head and with his cherub grin, exhibiting an attitude of “let’s get going”. Of course, at the time that “picture” made me both cry and laugh because it was Donald James through and through!

Laura being presented with a dime felt pretty serendipitous to me – as though Don was nearby and happy to see us being able connect and then share a hug. Laura wasn’t aware of the “dime stories” so I told her the one I’ve included here, then we said our farewells and continued our respective walks/journeys. I had only gone a short distance (less than a block) and perhaps you’ve already guessed it – there was another dime! So, the giggle was out loud, and the sense of comfort and a full heart was pronounced.

Author’s photo - I have a number of these taken over the past five years… LOL

It feels like it’s taken me a long time to reach what, some days, might be considered a possible “next step” in this journey of grief and loss. However, just for today I continue to embrace and practice my “Perfectly on Time” mantra.

As I gathered with family yesterday to celebrate our Thanksgiving it was a “loud and clear” reminder that

• absolutely nothing is forever (those great grandchildren have blinked from wee babies to almost 7 and 3).

• my soul is nurtured through expressions of gratitude.

• the sun rose and set again and continues to do that on a daily basis.

• my mood and attitude are mine and mine alone

• when I’m willing to consider what my “side of the street” looks my responses and reactions to unfolding events will allow me to walk away and either say “well done” OR “let it go - you’ve learned something new for next time.

• I have a very long list of gratitude’s to say thank you for - to my family, to my friends and to that source/universe/creator/spirit that walks with me every day.