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37 Of The Most Random Items People Always Carry – From No Reason At All To Surprisingly Adorable
Do you sometimes catch yourself doing some kind of unexplainable, random, and odd thing? Well, no matter what you say, we know you—because, don't we all?
For instance, having a random item that has no real purpose or use in your day-to-day life, but never throwing it out or giving it away. We think that this perfectly fits the online joke about "having no original experience," because haven't we all had items like that? So, today, let's take a look at which items netizens hold on to and maybe even discover the reason behind some of them.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A plastic snail that I found in my school parking lot. His name is Aaron, and Aaron lives in my bassoon case. He has played with me all over the country, I set him on my stand during concerts. He’s very well behaved, and never interrupts the concert.
Nice Beast Ludo 9 months ago
I love it. I have 2 turtles named Myrtle and Burtle in my purse. They are made from seashells and I got them on the way to Florida. Byrtle lost a foot but they are still married and like to ride on the dash when we go somewhere scenic.
Sara Frazer 9 months ago (edited)
The waving snail from Adventure Time! Fun fact: he's an easter egg in every episode
RELATED:
#2
1 Pokémon card - Sharpedo
My son told me he was the best, and to keep the card with me incase I ever needed to battle. So I keep it in my pocket at all times.
#3
My parking pass for the hospital the day that my daughter was born.
DennyS (denzoren) 9 months ago
This is pretty cool. I have some stuff like this too that reminds me of a particular day/time.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
I used to keep movie ticket stubs from the early days of my relationship with my now-ex - but even though I kept them in a closed tin, they still faded over time and most are completely unreadable now XD
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Humans are innately emotional people. The thing is, these emotions exist on a very broad spectrum. From joy to sadness, from anger to fear, and from surprise to disgust. And the broadness of these emotions isn’t the only thing that makes them so complicated. These emotions blend together, creating interesting mental states, and broadening the spectrum even further.
One of these complicated feelings is nostalgia. Simply said, nostalgia is a sentimental yearning for the past that evokes feelings of both pleasure and sadness.
#4
Weird rocks. Every single bag I have has at least 2 in them
Edit: wow y’all really like rocks!
Dr Jimmy 03 9 months ago
Got several small piles. Each stone has its own story.
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Data1001 9 months ago
I carry a rock in my pocket at all times -- but I keep it there as a reminder. It's my gratitude rock. Whenever my fingers happen to find that while digging for my keys or whatever, it's a reminder to me to stop for a moment of gratitude. So I find something around me, or something that happened, or something in my life, that I am grateful for, and take just a quick second of appreciation.
Crystalwitch60 9 months ago
In my white witch world rocks are crystals lol I’m either wearing them or they are all around the house n I’m always picks up stones on dog walks for my outside plants
Nina Summers 9 months ago
It's a big rock. Can't wait to tell my friends, they all don't have a rock this big.- Spike (Buffy)
#5
Pads. I don't have periods anymore because of a medical issue but I still bring them in case there is anyone that needs them.
Rebecca Murdoch 9 months ago
I don't have periods due to medical reasons too but always carry pads ect just incase there is someone who gets caught out and I can help them x
Kiss Army 9 months ago
They are also great for first aid. They are sanitary and absorbent if you ever need to cover a wound and apply pressure to stop bleeding in an emergency.
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Child of the Stars 9 months ago
I taught my oldest to always carry an extra pad or two because the unwritten rule between women is it doesn't matter how much I hate you, if you're caught out needing one and I have a spare, I give it to you.
#6
The key to the home I grew up in. I was so proud when they gave me a key to the house in 7th grade so I could let myself in whenever I needed to.
They changed the locks years ago, so this key is now completely useless, but I can't bring myself to take that key off of my key ring. I will always carry it to remind myself of my family.
Montanavanna 9 months ago
When in a hotel In Boise circa 2001ish my sister and I were walking the halls. They still used huge metal keys even though most chains had already made the switch to card readers. I thought how cool would it be if room 420's key was just sitting in the lock. Guess what happened ya'll?! I still have that key.
ispeak catanese 9 months ago
I carry the big metal key from the hotel we stayed at when we left our country 47 years ago. It's been on every keychain I've used.
Mary Ann Burgess 9 months ago
I still carry the key to my first car from 1984. A Volkswagen Rabbit. I LOVED that car!
Featherytoad 9 months ago (edited)
I've never had a key to my house. We lived in the country, and I lived there from the 70s through the 90s, and my parents never the locked the doors or windows unless we went on vacation. Never even took the keys out of our cars. My mom still lives there, and I bet she still doesn't lock them.
nottheactualphoto 9 months ago
I can't imagine living like that. The anxiety would be unbearable.
Load More Replies...This tweet perfectly explains what this exact feeling is about: “Nostalgia is proof that you are living a life worth living, it is a privilege to yearn for your own memories.”
Nostalgia can be brought on by visiting a certain place, seeing an old photo, smelling something, hearing a song, or simply seeing an item. That’s why some people tend to stick to seemingly unimportant stuff – it’s important to them, as it holds some kind of sentiment for them.
You can see a few examples of such items on today’s list. From a home key that no longer fits to a parking pass to a hospital from a special date – all of these (along with some that don't have the sentimental value we mentioned) were shared by netizens in an online thread under the question, “What is the most useless item you carry with you all the time?”
#7
A small marble turtle I named Harold In December of 2015 my family went to the Bahamas where I got Harold for $2 and I immediately put him in my pocket, a few days later I had forgotten he was there, but I was like nah can't take him out now he's already been there for 3 days. Flash forward to now and I still keep him in my pocket always, almost getting to 4 years. If he's not in my pocket I have get really anxious and worried about him, even though he's inanimate
#8
When I was in Arizona two years ago I bought a metal spider sculpture off of an old man outside a dingy side of the road wild west travelers stop. As a receipt he gave me a wallet size printed picture of him sitting proudly atop a horse, with a big white cowboy hat and he signed the back and wrote the dollar amount. I still have his picture in my wallet today.
#9
An all purpose tool. It is not particularly good at anything it does. Has a hammer on it that splits into a wirecutters/pliers. Compared to a leatherman, not super helpful to have on hand. It fails as a hammer, as a pliers, as a cutter. Even the knife/screwdriver attachments etc that pull out are so bulky that using any of them isn't great compared to say a swiss army knife.
I carry a letherman on hand too.
But... it was a gift from daughter in law/grandson who find me 'handy,' because I fix stuff for them, so I always have it on me as a memento. As a memento, not useless. Always makes me think of the Red Green show, "If they don't find you handsome, they can at least find you handy.".
Lady Eowyn 9 months ago
I'd almost forgotten about Red Green! I need to go watch that again.
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Yet, sentiments aren’t the sole reason why people sometimes can’t part ways with seemingly useless stuff. For instance, some people struggle with hoarding. With this disorder, their brain leads them to believe all of the stuff they save one day is going to somehow be useful or that they’ll spare Earth from more waste.
The kept stuff can also provide them with a sense of comfort and security. So, they might experience distress even over the thought of getting rid of them.
Over time, these people’s homes get cramped up with stuff that has a slim chance of being used one day. While for some this disorder doesn’t go so bad, for others it can make their living spaces unusable, which makes their lives drastically more difficult. Plus, the fact that in many cases, people don’t even realize they struggle with hoarding, which only makes the disorder more complex.
#10
Get out of Jail free card in my wallet since High school.
Im not sure why but it makes me feel better
Edit: thanks everyone, im glad im not the only fool carrying one of these in his wallet.
Edit edit: rip my inbox
Edit edit edit: it think this will soon be my new top comment of all time. Im finally gonna get that dumb Matress Firm story out of the way.
JL 9 months ago
I would like to see the police reaction when someone pulls one of those card out during an arrest.
Paulsible deniability 9 months ago
I keep one in my car in case I get pulled over. Hey, it's worth a shot!
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Parmeisan 9 months ago
Me too. Regretfully, his account is now deleted (or just that post was?) and I can't follow it back to see his top comments. Googling for "reddit mattress firm story" just gets a lot of conspiracy theories. Guess we'll never know.
Load More Replies... Crystalwitch60 9 months ago
If your going thru hell keep on going don’t look scared it you are don’t show it you might get out before the devil even knows your there ! (country song ) I don’t need a get outta jail free card lmao the devil still has a restraining order against me !
GOOHF 9 months ago
It's too bad he carries one that violates copyright and trademark, rather than the original that it's copied from. goohf-400-...793328.png 
Michael Largey 9 months ago (edited)
It's also one that contradicts Christian teaching. A Christian strives to avoid ending up in hell. But the teaching is "Once you're there, you're there". No getting out.
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superfluous 9 months ago
I would prefer get out of jail to the pictured card - all the cool people would be in hell (if it existed).
Michael Largey 9 months ago
"There you have it - heaven for climate and hell for society." - Mark Twain
Load More Replies... #11
Hair bands. I'm a guy with short hair, so they are absolutely useless to me.
However, after watching my little sister, my mother, and past girlfriends slurp up their own hair with their ramen.... that s**t is never happening in my presence again.
Nice Beast Ludo 9 months ago
Ew ew ew I thought this meant they used ramen noodles to tie their hair back and was confused now I wish I moved on before thinking on it too hard
#12
A $2 bill that I’m never going to spend. They’re not even rare, it just looks cool.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
My grandma used to give them to me as well!! :D I guess it's a grandparents thing!
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tarryn norwich 9 months ago
I give these to my best bartender/servers for good luck. Its an industry thing.
Rinso The Red 9 months ago
I have one as well. I have no idea why, but for some reason I think it's lucky? I've done it for decades and can no longer really recall why.
BookFanatic 9 months ago
I have an excellent story about $2 bills. My uncle walked into a store and tried to pay with one. He got accused by the teenage clerk of being a counterfeiter. Clerk called over the 20-something manager, who immediately called the police. 50-something cop walked in, looked at the bill, looked at the kids, and gave them an economics lesson. Uncle could hardly keep a straight face.
Granted, we don’t say that if you keep a few things just because and never throw or give them away, you’re a hoarder. Maybe there’s actually a sentimental reason why you keep that thing, but you don’t even realize (or don’t confess to it).
Perhaps it’s just a cute thing that you would feel bad about leaving behind. Either way, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your or another’s well-being, keeping a useless thing from time to time isn’t so bad.
Do you keep anything that might look useless to others? Spill your secret in the comments!
#13
Pointless in the sense it hasn't got a practical use
But a little letter my Fiancé wrote for me when we where gonna spend time away as I was away for work and she was staying home
I keep it everywhere I go so if I feel low ill pull it out and give it a cheeky read.
TheForrestGreene (he/they/it) 9 months ago
i have something similar to this. a voice note from my best friend. when i haven't seen him in a long time, or if i just really miss him, i listen to the voice note of him telling me to get rick rolled. its really nice and i like it a lot
#14
I joined the Navy ten years ago and we were all told about the tradition of challenge coins and why you carry them. Basically, you carry a coin and in the event of a night at the bar, getting a s**t tasking, etc. you can pull out your coin and whoever doesn't have one/has the lowest rank one gets s**t on (has to do the task, pays the tab whatever). Well, 10 years in I have never actually pulled my coin, nor has anyone else ever pulled coins on me. So, I carry a heavy as s**t Secretary of Defense coin in my wallet, looking for all the world like a dumb 15 year old with a condom in my wallet (because it is a round protrusion in the leather) for no damn reason. But I also am terrified of the day I do get challenged and don't have it and have to pay a $300 bar tab.
Lost Panda 9 months ago
I've been out for almost 10 years now... I still carry mine from the PACAF Brigadier General
nottheactualphoto 9 months ago
I did a fair amount of work at PACAF. This was during the McPeak era.
Load More Replies... nottheactualphoto 9 months ago
A company I worked for issued those to employees. Being a civilian, I was baffled.
#15
My wallet. The f**k is my broke a*s gonna do, buy something?
#16
A Dynomutt card from an Old Maid card game. Anybody remember Laff-A-Lympics?
#17
Emotional baggage.
Lynchamigsakta 9 months ago
I keep mine in the side pocket of my work pants
Load More Replies... Michael Largey 9 months ago (edited)
Your emotional baggage is the only kind the airlines will never lose.
#18
Mini 20-sided die for immaginary sudden D&D sessions!
#19
9 times out of 10 it's my chap stick. But on the one day I forget to grab it, you can bet my lips will be absurdly chapped for no reason.
Dr Jimmy 03 9 months ago
I'm the 3rd generation of males in my family to carry Chapstick. Original, none of this flavored cr*p. My nephew is 4th gen.
#20
Guitar Pick.
I don't play guitar.
Kira Okah 9 months ago
I have one, it's my partner's, they gave it to me when I was trying to see if I could remember how to play. They don't want it back in case I want to try again, there isn't a guitar in the house that I have any knowledge on how to play now (I learned 4 string left handed classical, my partner plays various bodied 6 string bass electric), but it's still here, in the box on the bedside cabinet.
MagicJacket 9 months ago
I carry a thick, opaque plastic Moshay brand pick from the late 80s around with me. I don't know why. I don't use a pick to play and I am rarely near a guitar in public or anywhere but home.
#21
Tiny black light on my keychain. No legitimate use for it whatsoever.
nottheactualphoto 9 months ago
There exists certain information for which I do not have the need to know.
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superfluous 9 months ago
I think they meant a UV light. "Black light flashlights, also known as UV flashlights, are commonly used for detecting counterfeit money, identifying pet stains, and observing fluorescence in minerals and certain substances. They are also useful in forensic science and for various artistic and decorative lighting effects." (Duckduckgo AI)
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
When I was a kid I got one connected to a pen that had 'invisible' ink so I could write secretly in my diary.
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Maggie Fulton 9 months ago
Beahaha! Dang, I had a black light poster when I was in grade school! The epitome of cool!
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SkippityBoppityBoo 9 months ago
I still have one of these! I used it at work a lot to detect counterfeit notes 🙂
#22
I have a coupon (expired on 2014/6/30) for 3 yuan off of a Large Coco Milk Tea with boba from when I visited Suzhou five years ago.. I live in the US though..
#23
I still carry my Blockbuster account card in my wallet. FYI Were im from they closed down around 10 years ago but you never know!!
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
Only a 14-hour drive straight north for me! XD
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Crystalwitch60 9 months ago
Blimey they ain’t been a think in uk for 20 plus yrs lmao in fact pre my 23-20 yr old kids way before so 25ish yrs
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
I had (until I downsized my purse a few months ago) three library cards to libraries over an hour and a half from where I live (but haven't had time to get one for where I live yet).
#24
A 'love' omamori I bought a month before last christmas. My crush died the week before Christmas.
#25
Stamp card for a cafe whose food gave me diarrhea.
#26
My zippo. I haven't smoked in a while, but I still carry it with me. Always good to be prepared, I guess.
Beak Hookage 9 months ago
I always carry a lighter. I've never smoked but sometimes I get asked for a light.
#27
The starter key to a 1960s Swiss-made cog wheel train that can climb up Pike's Peak.
#28
A compact mirror in my purse.
#29
Appendix. Like seriously, just take it and let me have 2 weeks off work please.
superfluous 9 months ago (edited)
Two WEEKS for an appendix??? Isn't that total maternity leave in the US? / s Edited to add sarcasm slash
Serena Myers 9 months ago
That is a really fast recovery! I got an appointment with my doctor, 18 years ago at a guess, he called the hospital and reserved me a bed, I was in theatre that same night (Monday) out of hospital Wednesday, but it was 6 weeks before I could return to work. TWO weeks?
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Niels AirMax 9 months ago
Had mine removed (urgently) and Boom: 5 (five) weeks gone. When I came back to work, everybody is like: Hey you, good to see you back here. You ok, mate? Welcome to Germany.🤘🏻
#30
My expired library card, from my high school.
#31
Still have the key to my old office on my key chain. I haven’t worked there in three years and will never be back. It’s a really big key that tends to get in the way. I might get rid of it one of these days but probably won’t.
cerinamroth 9 months ago
When I lived in France, I rented a 15th century apartment above a 92 year old sculptor who had really seen the world and had amazing tales to tell. The front gate had a wrought iron key that was about 20cm/8in long. That was a crazy key to have on my key chain!
Michael Largey 9 months ago
I've been retired over ten years, but I still have my old work parking pass dangling from my car mirror. Why? Every time I get in the car, it reminds me I don't have to go there any more.
#32
Those loyalty cards that were forced on me when I was unable to refuse and I still keep in my wallet but deep down I know I’m never really going to use.
Bec 9 months ago
Soon to be a thing of the past it seems, now everyone wants you to download their app! No thanks, I will spend the couple extra $ to not have a bunch of apps on my phone
nottheactualphoto 9 months ago
My ex was big into those cards, so I have lots of them. Including for two grocery chains that are hundreds of miles away. And we are both still members of the Wampum Club at Foxwoods.
#33
House key. My lock is electronic.
nomnomborkbork 9 months ago
But if the batteries fail, you'll be glad you have the mechanical key. Ask me how I know.
Bec 9 months ago
We had a car made in 2004 that we kept as a secondary vehicle, but with the pandemic it sat and sat and the battery died. Major design flaw was that we could not open it without power, even with a physical key. Had to have a door jimmied.
Load More Replies... #34
My old drivers driver's license. Never took it out of my wallet.
Leanne Hailes 9 months ago
😯 where I'm from the old one is immediately confiscated & they give a paper one until the new one comes in the mail
Sven Grammersdorf 9 months ago
In some places carrying multiple IDs is a crime, even if they're all yours. You're legally required to destroy your old license when you get a new one.
Huddo's sister 9 months ago
I didn't get my learner's until I was 26, so before that I had a Proof of Age card for buying alcohol. It is the one ID card that had a really nice photo, so I cut that out and kept it when I got my learners.
#35
Glasses cleaning cloth. I usually just use the bottom of my shirt.
Edit: I leave for class and come home to nearly 9k karma *and silver*. Hell yeah.
nottheactualphoto 9 months ago
I wash my glasses with liquid hand soap and warm water. Blot dry with a kleenex. The soap and kleenex are without lotions or other pollutants.
#36
Popsicle sticks.
Multa Nocte 9 months ago
Because you never know when you're going to need to check someone's throat with that tiny flashlight you are carrying around.
#37
Business card of someone I'll **definitely** never call
Edit: wow that's a ton of karma for such a simple comment. **Question: why doesn't my karma update reflect the 28k and instead only goes up a few hundred at a time?**.
Lost Panda 9 months ago
I carry my business cards, though I never have a reason to hand them out. In 3 years of working here, I think I have handed out 5
What do you think ?
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
I have a little bit of my dad in my pocket. He died in 2021 after being disabled for 21 years following an accident/traumatic brain injury, and I was one of his primary caregivers. I was the only family member who stayed at his bedside in the hospice ward at the hospital the night he died. I held his hand until he passed at 3:14am. I was the only one who went to pick up his ashes. So... I'm keeping them forever. I still plan on driving to Parker, AZ to scatter some of his ashes at the Colorado River, but until I can afford the road trip, I carry a tiny bracelet with some of his ashes in it. My dad is with me always :)
MP Deco 9 months ago
i did the same with my dads ashes for almost 11yrs....a small container until i was able to go back to England and spread them on the finish line at Epsom Downs 70 yrs after he first rode there...a jockey and ww2,British Army veteran....i miss him every day..😔
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Otto Katz 9 months ago
I have a paystub from my dad from 1972ish. I keep it to remind me how little he was paid, while having a mortgage, wife, and 6 little kids at home. I have no idea how my parents did it. I remember soin without supper some nights. I remember mom making most of our school clothes. I remember vacations were every other year, camping in an old army tent. Summer camp? ha! Disney? You're dreaming. But we got a few toys at Christmas. And if we were sick, we got to the doctor. I'll never throw that pay stub away.
Child of the Stars 9 months ago
On my 9th sober anniversary, a good friend gave me an AA chip that says "One Day At A Time." I celebrated 12 years last December, and that chip has been in my wallet ever since.
LuisSD stuff 9 months ago
I have a pocket size French language book that I keep in the glove compartment of every car I've owned. I stopped using my French years ago since no one around me speaks or understands it. If you don't use it, you lose it. But the little book reminds me of the time in my life where the whole world was my possibility of a bright future. But reality set in and those dreams I had never came true.
WindySwede 9 months ago
I have my Nintendo club card in my wallet (the old wallet, but still?)
SkippityBoppityBoo 9 months ago (edited)
I have a mini nail clipper on my keyring from a Christmas cracker that I got one really epically special Christmas when I was a kid... That and the mini emery board it came with is in my purse. I've always carried them. Both came in handy one time when a lady broke her nail but it was below the white and in the pink bit. Like, it ripped. I helped her clip the nail and I've always a few finger plasters in my purse too, so I stuck her nail together with those and one on top. So Yeays for Christmas cracker prizes!!! 💜🎅💜
Melanie Filmer 9 months ago
I have a plastic card I've carried in my phone case for about 8 years that says "Love you to the Moon" from my husband
LakotaWolf (she/her) 9 months ago
I have a little bit of my dad in my pocket. He died in 2021 after being disabled for 21 years following an accident/traumatic brain injury, and I was one of his primary caregivers. I was the only family member who stayed at his bedside in the hospice ward at the hospital the night he died. I held his hand until he passed at 3:14am. I was the only one who went to pick up his ashes. So... I'm keeping them forever. I still plan on driving to Parker, AZ to scatter some of his ashes at the Colorado River, but until I can afford the road trip, I carry a tiny bracelet with some of his ashes in it. My dad is with me always :)
MP Deco 9 months ago
i did the same with my dads ashes for almost 11yrs....a small container until i was able to go back to England and spread them on the finish line at Epsom Downs 70 yrs after he first rode there...a jockey and ww2,British Army veteran....i miss him every day..😔
Load More Replies... Otto Katz 9 months ago
I have a paystub from my dad from 1972ish. I keep it to remind me how little he was paid, while having a mortgage, wife, and 6 little kids at home. I have no idea how my parents did it. I remember soin without supper some nights. I remember mom making most of our school clothes. I remember vacations were every other year, camping in an old army tent. Summer camp? ha! Disney? You're dreaming. But we got a few toys at Christmas. And if we were sick, we got to the doctor. I'll never throw that pay stub away.
Child of the Stars 9 months ago
On my 9th sober anniversary, a good friend gave me an AA chip that says "One Day At A Time." I celebrated 12 years last December, and that chip has been in my wallet ever since.
LuisSD stuff 9 months ago
I have a pocket size French language book that I keep in the glove compartment of every car I've owned. I stopped using my French years ago since no one around me speaks or understands it. If you don't use it, you lose it. But the little book reminds me of the time in my life where the whole world was my possibility of a bright future. But reality set in and those dreams I had never came true.
WindySwede 9 months ago
I have my Nintendo club card in my wallet (the old wallet, but still?)
SkippityBoppityBoo 9 months ago (edited)
I have a mini nail clipper on my keyring from a Christmas cracker that I got one really epically special Christmas when I was a kid... That and the mini emery board it came with is in my purse. I've always carried them. Both came in handy one time when a lady broke her nail but it was below the white and in the pink bit. Like, it ripped. I helped her clip the nail and I've always a few finger plasters in my purse too, so I stuck her nail together with those and one on top. So Yeays for Christmas cracker prizes!!! 💜🎅💜
Melanie Filmer 9 months ago
I have a plastic card I've carried in my phone case for about 8 years that says "Love you to the Moon" from my husband
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