Raining 20's

Picture the nightmarish I-Love-Lucy moment when you go to take your money out of the ATM and you drop it. I woke up in a cold sweat and admitted that’s exactly what had happened to me – just last night.

I needed cash to pay the person who cleans our house every two weeks. I don’t like going to the ATM near our house in a somewhat sketchy area at night. But I was sure I could make my withdrawal and be done in a minute or two.

I always look around to check out who else is there before getting out of my car. Only one car at the drive-by ATM. So I went to the walk-up one where there was no one around.

Card in, select ENGLISH, pin number, withdrawal, amount, wait, money. Then as I took it out of the dispenser, I dropped it – not just a bill, but the stack of bills. Not that there was that much, but it seemed like a lot as the wind tossed it around.

Maybe it would have been better if the long line of Hispanic men who are usually there had been there last night. My guess is they would have pitched in and rounded up every fluttering bill in no time.

But instead I was snatching at my flying money like a crazed woman. When I saw no more in hiding, I jumped into my car to count and make sure I had it all. Whew!

I wondered if anyone – perhaps the surveillance camera – had captured this little escapade. How ridiculous I must have looked picking my money up off the sidewalk.

Just a freaky accident with no harm done. But it makes me conscious of being more aware of what I am doing at the ATM machine. It’s not a time for making lists or daydreaming!