Mia, a dedicated single mom, felt a spark of hope with her new boyfriend, Jake. After four months of dating, they planned a weekend getaway to his family’s beach house. It seemed perfect, especially for her son, Luke, who was excited about the trip.
As a fourth-grade teacher, Mia loved her job and appreciated the time it allowed her to spend with Luke. His father rarely visited, so Mia was determined to create a happy home for them both.
Finally, she decided to introduce Luke to Jake. One sunny day, she nervously asked Luke if he wanted to meet someone special for lunch. He was intrigued and, after a fun lunch, the two bonded over dinosaurs and Lego. They enjoyed several weekends together, and Mia felt confident about their growing relationship.
When Jake invited them to his beach house, Mia and Luke were thrilled. Upon arriving, Jake’s parents welcomed them warmly. After exploring, Jake showed Luke his childhood toys while Mia admired the nostalgic room.
But everything changed when Luke suddenly rushed downstairs, pale and trembling. “Mom, we need to leave! I found a box with bones in Jake’s room!” Mia’s heart raced. “What do you mean, bones?”
“Real bones, Mom!” Luke insisted. Panic set in. Had she misjudged Jake? “Stay here”, she told Luke, her voice shaking. She hurried back to Jake’s room, and her heart dropped when she found the box under the bed. Inside were actual bones. Without thinking, she took Luke’s hand, and they bolted out of the house.
As they sped away, Mia’s phone buzzed with calls from Jake, but she couldn’t bear to answer. Once parked on the roadside, she called 911, fearing the worst. The police quickly called back. “Mia, the bones are fake,” the officer reassured her. “They’re replicas for teaching.”
Relief washed over her, but guilt quickly followed. How could she have jumped to such conclusions? With a deep breath, Mia called Jake. “I’m so sorry”, she said. “I was scared for Luke and overreacted.”
“Mia, it’s okay”, Jake replied. “You were just protecting him. Let’s turn this into a funny story, not a reason to break up.” Mia smiled, feeling lighter. She reassured Luke that everything was fine and they drove back to the beach house, where Jake’s parents were understandably worried.
After explaining the situation and apologizing for their abrupt departure, they spent the rest of the day relaxing by the ocean. That day became a fond memory, marking the start of an even stronger bond between Mia and Jake. Now, they often laugh about the wild escape from the beach house, grateful that it only brought them closer together. What do you think?
If you find a coin on a loved one’s gravestone, you had better know what it means
We all have different traditions when it comes to commemorating and paying tribute to our loved ones who have passed away.
In today’s world, honoring the customs of others while commemorating the lives of the departed ought to come as standard practice. Some may choose to follow traditions or practices that the rest of us are not familiar with, but it doesn’t make them any less legitimate.
The same is true with gravestones and the ornamentation certain families choose to place over their loved ones’ last resting places. Coins being placed on headstones is one custom that is widely practiced and that you have probably witnessed at some point. However, why is this even a thing? And from whence did it originate? Continue reading to learn more.
Coins are traditionally placed on gravestones in cemeteries around the United States and other countries. When I was a little child, I first observed it when I was at my grandfather’s tomb, and even then, I started to wonder what it was all about.
Luckily, finding the beginnings online doesn’t need much research. Although it was previously thought that the practice originated with Roman military troops, a number of sources have disproved that theory in recent years.
Still, there’s a military connection to leaving pennies on gravestones. The American Legion Website states on one of its pages that it can be linked to the Vietnam War.
“Leaving a coin was considered a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the soldier’s grave than contacting the soldier’s family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war, due to the political divide in the country over the war.”
There are other reasons why veterans leave pennies on gravestones in memory of their fallen friends; occasionally, they do so in order to purchase a beer for them. Each coin represents a different meaning, according to reports.
For instance, a nickel is left by someone who served in boot camp with the deceased, whereas a penny just indicates that someone was present.
On the other hand, a dime represents a combined period of military service. Next are quarters, which inform the family of the presence of whoever left the coin at the moment of the loved one’s passing.
Ever notice a penny left on a gravestone? Were you aware of its meaning? Tell us in the comments below.
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