This is how I spent my second coin
Arizona Coin Collector
http://www.aikenstandard.com/featurecolumns/0121-marti-healy
Aiken Standard, Aiken, South Carolina
This is how I spent my second coin
1/20/2009 6:56 PM
By MARTI HEALY
Columnist
"When you have only two coins left in the world, buy
a loaf of bread with one and a rose with the other."
The old proverb repeated through my mind as I walked
slowly around the sculpture for sale. Somehow, my
brain kept replacing the word "rose" with the broader
category of "beauty." My rationalization was already
convinced: "... buy a loaf of bread with one, and a
thing of beauty with the other." Like a piece of
art, perhaps.
But just as insistently, I kept hearing the opening
words of the old saying: "When you have only two coins
left in the world ..." Only two coins left.
I looked down at the clothes I was wearing. Just that
morning I had reclaimed my favorite shoes from the
repair shop for the second time. I had also recently
stitched up the small tear under the sleeve of my
sweater. The scarf around my neck had been a gift.
Definitely not extravagant about my clothes.
I circled the compelling sculpture again, touching it
gently with the tip of my finger in innocent
defiance of the "please don't touch" sign hanging
just below my hand. The surface was rough. It felt as
organic as the image it formed. Horses - all heads
and tails and strength and freedom. Controlled
wildness and free spirit. Together alone. No human
intervention. Their own self-contained culture and
grace and communion. "Last Herd in Hitchcock," the
title read.
My finger stroked across one of the manes. Where
will I put it, I wondered? (Not "would" but "will.")
I was already envisioning it in my own environment.
Someplace where I can look at it a great deal, I
vowed.
"When you have only two coins left in the
world ..." This is a time to be careful! I pulled
my hand away and stepped back from the equine
beauty. "... buy bread with one, and save the
other," my pragmatic side finished. But that's not
the proverb, I noted. Greater minds than mine
created those words of wisdom. Who am I to
rewrite them?
Two coins were left in my pocket. With one, I
could buy bread - even share the bread with
someone else, perhaps one who had no coins at all.
And with the other ... More quotes jumped into
readiness: "Art is not bread but the wine of
life." "Art is food for the soul."
And, just as quickly, I could see how this
opportunity might be one intriguing albeit small
way to help "stimulate the economy" around me.
Perhaps my purchase of this work of art will buy
bread for the young artist.
Perhaps pure rationalization. But, perhaps, it
contained some bit of truth and wisdom. Who suffers
most in economic downtimes if not those who depend
on the rest of us to share our two coins? It is all
of our charitable entities and not-for-profit
groups, including the arts and artists. And what is
lost is the beauty of the world. Art, music, dance,
the smile on a small child's face, the fear taken
away from an animal's heart. Love being shared.
"When you have only two coins left in the world,
buy a loaf of bread with one, and beauty with the
other," I continue to paraphrase and believe. And
one final thought from yet another's
wisdom: "Spend all you have for loveliness, / Buy
it, and never count the cost; / For one white
singing hour of peace / Count many a year of strife
well lost."
My second coin was, indeed, invested in the sculpture.
My old shoes will simply have to last a bit longer.
My bread has been shared with some of those in need.
And my life is being enriched with "one white singing
hour of peace."
Just imagine how you might spend your second coin.
Marti Healy is senior writer for The Design Group,
and author of "The God-Dog Connection" and a new novel
"The Rhythm of Selby."
..
Mr. Jaggers
> FROM:
> http://www.aikenstandard.com/featurecolumns/0121-marti-healy
>
> Aiken Standard, Aiken, South Carolina
>
> This is how I spent my second coin
>
> 1/20/2009 6:56 PM
> By MARTI HEALY
> Columnist
>
> "When you have only two coins left in the world, buy
> a loaf of bread with one and a rose with the other."
Without question one of your more worthwhile links, AZ. Thanks!
James