I was sitting in the park, watching all the moms and dads, playing with the children. A man about 70 years old, came and sat on the bench with me. We said our hello and how are you today, to each other. His name is Tony, I said Sally here. We started talking about the children and parents, in the park and talking about our own famlies. He told me that his wife and three sons, were killed in a car wreck, seven years ago on todays, date. He talked of all the good times that they had shared and some of the sad times. I could tell that he wanted to talk to someone about his life, so I just let him talk on.We all need someone to talk to, sometimes. I asked him how he ever survived, losing his whole family like that, all at once. I cried for a week and then, I started to drink. And then I drinked and cried for a little over a year. I went to a park, about like this one, filled with families, one day. I sat on the bench and watch the happy people. This old man sat down next to me. I would say he was the age that I am, now. We talked for an hour or so, about being happy and how we must go on with our lives, even though, we may be in pain, sad, depressed or just wanted to die. It was like he knew I was trying to kill myself, with my drinking so I could join my family in death. He had brought lunch with him and wanted to share with me. I could not remember the last time that I had ate any food.I know that he could tell by just looking at me.That man, his name was Steven, had enough to feed the both of us. After lunch and another thirty minutes of talking, he looked at me and said, Tony I want to give you something. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. This coin was given to me by a woman in a park, five years ago.This is a very special coin. It helps you to live. I didn't know what to say. Once it is placed in your hand, you will see things a lot differently.You will want to live out the rest of your life and be happy doing so. And when you meet the right person in a park, who needs this coin, you will pass it along to them. He opened my hand and laid it there. I do not know how to put it into words, but I felt alive again. I asked him how would I know when it's time to pass the coin along? He said, you will know  and you can never tell a soul about this coin. Then he walked away. I was so in shock because my plans for today was to walk to the park and watch the happy families and then go to my lonely home, to kill myself. I had wanted to die on this very day. But now Thanks to Tony, I wanted to live and to be happy. I will keep my coin untill it's time to pass it along to another troubled person and I will know when the time has come. THE COIN copyright Teresa A Crowe june 9, 2006