Mr Kendall?
I'm a new member here. I am 44 years old and have felt a deep spiritual connection with all things pre 1970 since I was born. Coins are no exception. I've always simply glanced at them looking in change for wheat pennies, silver coins, something foreign or odd,etc...
I've possibly let some nice coins go in the past due to lack of knowledge and/or concern. I was of the impression that grading and basically the entire coin trade was not all that interesting without ever doing anything further than scanning
ebay to "check for my lottery winner." I unfortunately made some bad decisions that cost me nearly half a million in cash, a fairly extensive collection of petroliana and advertising memorabilia, gas pumps, signs, drink boxes, 1st edition books from 18th/19th centuries, WWI AND WWII memorabilia, you name it I had it and I had a LARGE selection of things that aren't found on Google and aren't in any antique store you'll likely ever go in....rare stuff. I had a great start on retirement yada yada. The most important things, though; my life; my wife and children; my parents, siblings, nieces, nephews; friends I thought were gone forever; those things survived a selfish addiction that would have taken a lesser man out. But I win. I'm blessed. And I'm a stubborn arse if I need to be.....so don't feel sorry for me please. I'm not writing for sympathy or asking for anything at all.
But I have a very sincere REASON and a specific purpose of you read to the end.
At 42 years old with a wife, a 17 year old son, 7 year old daughter, and 5 year old son all depending on me, I decided to let the man I had slowly become die.....
But that was in jail.....
Countless nights high without any measurable sleep, learning of a serious deception, and sick children combined to push my judgement over the edge and one argument and one minute of wreckless driving later I was in Orange looking dumb.....for a couple months nobody would come see me or answer my calls or put money on books. Nothing. I thought I had lost it ALL.
Well lots of things I cherished got either taken to scrap, given away, sold or stolen in 2 months.
I finally got a response from my ex wife of all people and was able to communicate to my parents I wanted to get clean and convince them to allow me to live there indefinitely if I was serious about change.
Well I was serious but can you imagine being 42 years old, starting life over with my responsibilities, and not one single penny to your name? Gives new meaning to behind the 8 ball. But I thought about coins I had stashed at home often and to my relief and joy I at least still had those when I went back that Christmas Eve to be with my family. And I NEVER even think about those old habits any more. Really I'm much more just interested than obsessed now with antiques and unique junk....what I call "junktiques"....
I now do remodeling, or really whatever I come across to make a dollar legally. But I'm so busy now that I cannot possibly catch up. Booked at least through summer now!! I'm telling you I'm blessed!! And grateful...grateful I was able to live long enough to change....grateful for telling my wife and children good night in person EVERY night....grateful for monetary blessings and my reputation being almost instantly restored and the community basically rallying around me to be successful.....and grateful that some of my coins remained....
In the interim I've learned to appreciate by ghosting this and other forums, that this coin collecting thing is like a treasure hunt and challenging college course combined... you just HAVE to examine every piece of change you see!! It has given me a place to focus energy and to relax. So it's becoming my new addiction. I'm not doing it fur the money, I'm doing it for the glory..... the glory of learning and passing down something special to my old soul daughter who would most appreciate them....she's just like me and we communicate telepathically half the time!!
Anyway I hope you've hung on with me this far Mr Kendall. For I cannot believe I just divulged all this to this group but I did so for a couple reasons I guess.
First and foremost if anyone here is struggling with addiction, feel free to get in touch with me, through a moderator of necessary. Confidential, non-judgemental, honest. I'm here for you no matter who you are or what you've done.
Secondly I just wanted to thank you for being willing to pass your love along. You never know how many lives can be changed by a single deed, good or bad. I try to remain conscious of this precept. I applaud your generosity and concern for fellow humans!!
I pray you have many great returns.
Respectfully
J.H.B.III
(RustJunky)
Posted 01/28/2020 09:42 am
