I found a penny on the road while walking to the library. So does that mean I'll have good luck for the rest of the day? Does anyone remember that old rhyme?

Find a penny, pick it up,
And all that day, you'll have good luck!

Wonderful! I could certainly use a little luck, especially in the monetary department. This oh-so-well-put-together rhyme has provided me with a means to be optimistic for the day. It's as though we as people need to validate our existence by quantifying something insubstantial.

Come to think of it, humans are quite proficient at that, in relation to more things than just luck.

In this case though, it's a thin round piece of copper, emblazoned with the words "One Penny" and the numeric value of '1' that symbolizes my hope for the day. Who could expect so much from something so little? It should be noted though, that one must observe a precise chain of events in order to enjoy the prize. If I didn't pick it up immediately following the discovery of the coin, thus breaking the chain of events listed in the rhyme, it would be safe to assume that I wouldn't have any luck for the day, or at worst; bad luck. Damn, these things just become so complicated. I'm pretty sure I observed the correct order though.

So can I expect some good luck today? Should I subscribe to all of the above? I'm not sure, but here's what I can tell you; In the 15 seconds following the discovery of my lucky penny, I was assaulted by a gust of leaves, and something managed to find its way into my eye. That, I've decided, is rather unlucky.