Hi, Raoul!

Get rid of coins? Those little talismans of currency? Bite your tongue! ;)

This is a strictly romantic opinion, because I agree that coins are cumbersome and probably will be the target of elimination. But I like them!

Little sculptures in our pockets. Jingle jingle jingle. What my children used to call "hard monies" when they were little, and actually preferred them to folding money, especially when we shined them up.

What will the Tooth Fairy leave, a McDonald's gift certificate? (Though I know that the Tooth Fairy is an Anglo... There's this picture book, Throw Your Tooth on the Roof, about baby tooth ceremonies around the world. Not every child gets hard monies.) What will we put into vending machines or parking meters or pay phones? I hate those little vend-a-cards, and you need money to buy them anyway.

Besides, if I use a credit card for everything, somebody somewhere will know absolutely everything about me: where I go, how long I park downtown, everything. Without the musical anonymity of coin, the last of my illusions about privacy will be gone.

Good to see you!

Best regards--
Mary Anne