The smell of money.

Funny how, without warning, something will take me back to the U.S., and make me...sentimental. Yesterday I needed to get some U.S. money from a currency exchange. (By the way, the exchange rate right now is an incredible $1 = 8.6 SEK=.94 Euro !!) The U.S. dollar is not made of paper, but rather is composed of 75% cotton and 25% linen, and has a distinct scent.  I do not know of what materials other currency are composed.  I read that Euros are made of cellulose and Australian, Canadian, and other countries have switched to polymer. Maybe the U.S. will switch someday too.  But in the meantime, I do, in a literal sense, love the smell of U.S. money.  : )

U.S., Norwegian, Czech, and Swiss bills

Two other notes regarding money.  Some friends were surprised to know that even if the look of U.S. currency changes, no U.S. money ever retires and becomes valueless.  I remember speaking to a Pakistani man who assumed that U.S. currency would have a picture of Obama on it.