P is for Penny

Wherever we travel, the boys like to get a souvenir or two from the attractions we visit on our vacations. Recently, Ethan has been demanding toy guns - western six shooters, pop muskets, laser guns - whatever WMD is available at the gift shop. Stuart is a bit more eclectic in his choices, but one that he always asks for (and since his big brother is getting one, Ethan will want one too) is a flattened commemorative penny. For instance, at Disneyland you can get an engraving of Mickey, Minnie, Donald or Goofy. At the local science center you can stamp out a spaceship, an astronaut and two different types of dinosaurs.

I used to think that this was a pretty good collectors item, until we used the machine at Presidents Park. The choices? Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt. Tell me if this makes sense: I give Stuart and Ethan each 51 cents - half a dollar for the use of the machine and the penny to be flatten - and each boy in turn defaces said legal tender to receive an engraving of their favorite president - Abraham Lincoln! I'm thinking to myself, "Wasn't there already a picture of Lincoln on those pennies?" If that was all they wanted I could have saved myself a dollar and just give them both a penny. Hey, I could have given each of them a penny along with a nickel, a dime and even a quarter and it would still be cheaper.

To top it off, minutes later when Ethan ran out into the park, he casually tossed aside the flattened penny onto the lawn. It's interesting how different adult and child perceptions are: I was more concerned for the object at hand as a momento or keepsake, whereas his pleasure came from just using the machine - an act that is simultaneous creative and destructive. Which brings me back to those guns...