When I was little and my Grandma Thon (pronounced Tone) was still living, we always had to go to her house to pick up our homemade birthday cake and a birthday card that contained three crisp one dollar bills. During the time we lived in Utah and California, we didn't get the home made cake (obviously), but we always got a card in the mail with three dollars. I remember when my older brother turned eighteen and how he chuckled at the card with "the big money." We loved getting this from Grandma Thon...it wasn't just about the money, but the tradition and knowing that we could count on getting three dollars for our birthday.Today, while on my birthday run along the beach in San Diego, I looked in earnest for a sand dollar to take home to Ashley. I hadn't seen any so far on this trip, but I was out early enough this morning that I thought I might have a chance of finding one. As I got to the end of the beach, where very few people venture, I began looking and lo and behold...I found one! I went a few feet more and I found and second one and then a third one. And I thought of Grandma Thon and her three birthday dollars. Thank you, Grandma!
