MS Walkers, Car Salesman & Encased Cents

My first big adventure was attending the Multiple Sclerosis Walk on May 19^th, 2007 at Bear Mountain Park, NY.  My husband and I began our trip to the mountains under heavy black clouds.  We were soon no surprised by the deluge that followed.  The further north we went up to the mountain, the colder it got.  We seriously considered going home…after all, who would walk in such a cold down pour?  Nevertheless, we were going to support my husband’s nephew and we’d had a special commemorative encased penny, designed by Bryan G. Ryker, ECI #51, so we had to at least show up.

What a surprise!  There were hundreds of MS Walkers gathering in their respective teams.  Umbrellas were the norm and the more experienced came lad in raincoats and galoshes.  These people were dedicated!

I’d made arrangements with the event planners to display the encased penny at their MS Store.  There I set up a small display using signs I’d had made that said all proceeds were to benefit MS.  Then we waited…in the now drizzle…and then

About an hour later, as the walkers returned to the staging area to have their lunch, we caught their attention.  People of all ages were fascinated with the shiny piece…some dubbed it an award.  Others called it a medal.  Some bought pennies for their whole team.  Others wanted this and last year’s penny…of course I was prepared for the collectors I’d meet.  Others bought the encased pieces for their children.  Those were the best sales.  Every child, without exception, walked away looking at that penny in amazement.  They had never, ever, seen an encased penny.  “What is it called?” asked one little guy.  Another, wide-eyed and smiley guy asked, “Will you have these next year, too?”  We left the event quite damp around the edges but quite happy we’d made the trip.

Having committed the MS Walk event to recent memory, I set out the next week to buy a new car.  My 1987 Nissan 300 XZ was ready to retire.  I’d done all my research and set about making my purchase in an organized manner.  At my first stop, I met Caesar, a young man in his late twenties.  He was to be my car guru.  Shortly after we began talking, Caesar’s cell phone rang...a call from his wife.  All this lead to him telling me he had a young son.

As is my custom, I pulled from my pocket an encased penny to give to his son.  That was the end of the car discussion.  Caesar, too, had never seen an encased penny.

• First he marveled as he turned it over and over in his hands.  How was it made?
• Next he read the words and asked about them.
• Then he unexpectedly got up from his desk to show it to the three other salesmen in the showroom.

I wondered if his son would ever see this coin.

Now, don’t worry.  I did survive the MS Walk (rain-a-thon) without catching pneumonia and I did get my car, although it wasn’t from Caesar.  I must admit I am hooked on seeing the enthusiasm of each person when they receive their first encased penny.