My quilt

Randy, I'm sorry about this, but it's a sad topic.

One of my most prized possessions (probably #2 to my wedding ring) is a mismatched red, pink, brown, stripey, polka dotted, well loved and hand made quilt I got before my 5th birthday from my great grandmother. Mamaw Riddlehoover gave these socially hideous quilts out one about a year before she passed away. None of the quilts I've seen have a color pattern, or a pattern of any sort, but every one of them is treasured and loved. Even Rob, who is fairly new to my life, knows there is something very special about my quilt. He doesn't know the story of how I remember standing on her porch when it was handed to me, he doesn't really understand why when I'm sick or scared this quilt brings me so much comfort.
Sadly there isn't much I remember about my Mamaw. I don't remember how much I loved her or how often I saw her in my five years of life. But I do know that she gave me this quilt and it is an enormous help through tough times of sick or sadness.
Like I said, my quilt is a variety of colors that range from red to pink, brown to black, and just about everything in between. On the orignal backing it read "Kasey 1989" in my great grandmother's handwriting. For some unknown reason, my quilt out of everyone's had a little something extra in it as well. Two old pennies. The dates weren't of particular interest to me. I don't really know why they ended up tucked in my quilt. But they have always been there. Two plus years ago my Grandma lovingly resewed my quilt, because it had become tattered from all the nights I had slept with it. Grandma assured me that she cut out the "Kasey 1989" from the quilt and had resewn it in the middle and then covered it with the new back. She also carefully replaced my two pennies into the side of the quilt. I wash my quilt every so often, because Grandma said that I should or it would wear faster.
Tonight I curled up in my big bed in my far away house to watch shark week and of course pulled my quilt around me. And there it was. A small tear. It was no bigger than 1.5 cm, but I could see the edge of an old penny. As I felt down the side of my quilt for the other penny I found another small tear at the opposite end. My 2nd penny is gone. My heart hurts right now for my lost penny. I know that sounds silly, but it was something I have had special for most of my life. And when I was younger I would feel around in my quilt for my pennies to hold onto or to rub when I was scared. I know that I am lucky to have spotted the tear before my final penny fell out, but I can't stop the feelings of sadness.
I will find my sewing needle and patch the small holes. And I will make a special new pocket for my penny out of new, thicker material. Maybe then all will be right in the world again.
I just hope that my Mamaw can see how special this quilt is to me. I hope she knows that I love it very much and am so thankful that she cared enough to give it to me. I hope that my handy work makes her proud.
I wish everyone had something that they treasure as much as I do my quilt. It is such a wonderful constant in my life and I hope that one day it will serve the same purpose for my children. I pray that when I tell them the story of the ugly quilt they will see the same beauty I do, and love it just as much.