Blog # 12 – The Two Dollar Bill ($2)

Nov 4, 2019 · 6 min read –

I was close to my maternal grandfather. Though I only got to spend minimal time with him during my formative years, the time was instructional and impactful. My family’s schedule consisted of living overseas for three to five years at a time, with one year furloughs in the States. However, each year on US soil allowed us to live in close proximity to my grandparents. He taught me woodworking skills as he invested in a complete workshop when he retired, and allowed me to use his tools and wood to craft all sorts of things like candlesticks, boxes, games and lamps. He taught me maintenance and care of tools and equipment; principles and habits I use to this day. Furthermore he was a generous and friendly man. He always was seeking out new folks at church for a warm handshake and welcome. It wasn’t uncommon for him to meet new folks at church and invite them to Sunday dinner. Somehow Grandma made the meal come together. Grandpa Ward was good people.

I so enjoyed spending time with him and talking to him during my teenage years. Often when we weren’t working on a project in his workshop, we’d chat in his home office. On his wall hung a framed 2 dollar bill. Above the bill was a short paragraph that mentioned how two dollar bills were favored by bettors at the horse racing track, since many bets were a $2 bet. Having this framed momento on his wall was appropo since one of Grandpa’s trademark acts was to hand out two dollar bills.

THE $2 bill

Two dollar bills were relatively rare in normal circulation back in the 1970’s and continue to be rarely seen in day-to-day commerce. Many people hoard and collect them, further reducing their proliferation in daily financial transactions. Though the US Mint does print a small quantity even now.

So during one of my visits with Grandpa in high school, I asked him if I could have the framed $2 bill when he was gone. He agreed.

Unfortunately, 5 years later, Grandpa was gone. A few years after his passing, I was visiting Grandma and told her my discussion with Grandpa years earlier and asked her if I could have the framed $2 bill on the office wall. She was fine with it and instructed me to mark it accordingly. I wrote my name on some masking tape and secured it to the back of the frame.

Years went by and it was time to move Grandma to a nursing home. I reached out to my mom and told her that both Grandpa and Grandma had said I could have that $2 bill. I wanted to be sure that as the house was downsized and personal effects and heirlooms were distributed to the children, that she could ensure that item made it back to me. It was some time later that I reached out to Mom to find out if she had it, when she told me that she didn’t recall seeing it and didn’t know where it went. What! How could this be? I was very disappointed but being busy with work, kids, and life, I forgot about it and put the issue behind me.

Then several years later, I had a business trip to Denver. I reached out to my Aunt Audrey about my visit and she invited me to dinner and offered me the guest room for the night. I accepted.

I arrived at her home and took my stuff to the guest room. As I was unpacking my bag and getting organized, I noticed on the dresser Grandpa’s framed $2 bill. I’d found it!

She called me for dinner and during our time around the table, I kept wondering what to do about the newly found item. Should I say anything? Should I let it go? Should I hint about it, or should I just come out and ask her why she took it when my name was on it? What to do?

So factoring in all the potential pitfalls and wedges that I could fall in to with interfamilial dynamics, I decided to go for it.

“Aunt Audrey, can I tell you a story”? I asked.

“Sure” she responded.

“It’s a story of a little boy. This little boy spent a lot of time with his grandfather. He loved his grandfather. And one day many years ago, this boy asked for one item as a keepsake. He wanted one thing that he felt represented his grandfather’s character, values and persona. So he asked his grandfather if he could have that item, and he’d agreed. A few years later, the boy’s grandfather passed away. Very tragic indeed. And then his grandmother started to have health issues, so he told his grandmother that Grandpa had said he could have this item. And could he have it when she moved into the nursing home or passed on? She was fine with the request and instructed the young man to put his name on it. He did so.

Then, that young man told his mother about it and asked her to secure it when the personal effects were disbursed. Some time later, Grandma moved to a nursing home, so her personal effects were divvied up between the kids or sold. Unfortunately, that item was missing, and the young man was disappointed when his mom reported that the $2 bill was gone. He thought that was the end of it. Over time, he forgot about it.”

“So what are you talking about?”

“Well,” I replied. “The little boy in the story is me. And I found that item on the dresser in the guest room. It’s the framed $2 bill. Now please know, that I don’t want to cause any family angst or any problems or create any awkwardness or issues. Keeping the family peace is what’s important”.

My aunt contemplated what I’d said for a moment, then instructed her son to retrieve the framed $2 bill. He did so.

“That was a great story you told me.” She paused. “Now, let me tell you a story” she said.

“As you well know, Grandpa was known for his generosity and his trademark was giving people $2 bills.” She then proceeded to reach for her purse. She fumbled through it and found her wallet. She opened it and dug through one of the crevasses and pulled out a folded up $2 bill. She unfolded it and handed it to me.

“This was given to me by your grandfather in 1954 as I had just finished High School. Since I would be venturing out into the world, he said that he always wanted to ensure I had enough money for bus fare to get home. So I have kept this $2 bill in my wallet all these years, and never spent it.” She then went on with her story.

“And, it was I who got Grandpa that framed $2 bill. I saw it in a gift shop and felt it fit him perfectly, so got it for him in the late 1960’s before we moved overseas. So when we were dividing up the household items when Grandma moved, since I’d given it to him, it made sense for me to get it back. Oh, I didn’t see your name on it and there’s no piece of tape on it now.”

I contemplated what she had shared. It made perfect sense for her to have her gift to her father return to her as a remembrance.

She then continued: “But, I can clearly see that it means more to you than to me, so I’d like you to have it.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond. On one hand, I’d found the lost item, but then heard how it was attached to my aunt and how her life was woven into its story. Thus logically it belonged to her. Now she was relinquishing it to me.

“Well, that’s very generous and thoughtful, but if this in any way causes any problems between us now or in the future, I’d rather leave it with you and ask for you to leave it to me when you pass on.” I responded.

“No”, she replied. “Take it now. I want you to have it.”

I was honored even more knowing and understanding more of this $2 bill’s story and how it was integrated into my extended family by the journey it had taken.

The $2 bill hangs on my home office wall. I’ve told my kids the story about my grandfather and how my aunt was part of its story. I collect $2 bills when I come across them in normal circulation and probably have fifty bills that are wedged to the frame with the original. I’ve even handed out a few of them to friends and some cousins’ kids.

Each time I look at that $2 bill on my wall, I’m thankful for the keepsake I asked for over 40 years ago. It reminds me to be generous with my time, talents and treasure, just like Grandpa. And, my aunt.

Congo Kid – Article # 12 – October, 2019

Copyright © 2019 by Jeffrey W. Eales. All rights reserved. No portions may be reproduced or transmitted in any format without the prior written permission of the author.