*Went to the grandsons band concerts last night and spent the night with them. Somehow I messed up the blog post. Re-publishing one of my favorites. I’ll be back on track tomorrow!

Debit cards are a marvelous thing as long as you remember your security code number and don’t get hacked! I have 2 separate cards and yes I have gotten them and their security codes messed up more than once! Last time I called the bank they told me the card I was asking about was the joint account I had with Chief and it was closed! Yes, that was card three and I cut it up.

A while back somebody in Saskatchewan tried to buy a $700 cell phone with my card. The bank, knowing I was too unintelligent to operate a phone that expensive, flagged that charge as fraudulent. I zoomed off to Alexander City for a new debit card. I was so excited when I realized I could get a DQ blizzard on the way home.

On the way home I was thinking of all the times, usually from an internet purchase, I had had my card compromised. Used to have to wait two weeks for a new card but now the bank does them on site!

My most interesting debit card experience was when my card got stuck in a gas pump. Every time I received a pay check I would go to the same gas station, same pump, and fill up my Tahoe. You might remember the story from my Facebook page. It was a really hot summer day. I put the card in, reached to pull it out, and it was superglued. I tried and tried to pull it out and then humiliated and hanged dogged I walk in to tell the attendant my card is stuck in the gas pump.

The attendant was very nice and said he’d come out in a minute. I sit in the car sweating and waiting. He told me this had happened before and he would get it out. He finally comes and he works up a sweat trying to pull the card out. A customer comes to the store so he goes back in but tells me in broken English, “Second man come soon! He get card out. Come in store, have drink and wait.” I want to say, “Yeah, I need a drink!” I thanked him and patiently waited for man number two.

Time passes, I sweat more. I see second man coming. I’m so excited. He tries everything. Turns the pump off…card still stuck. I tell him, “Just get some pliers and pull it out!” But I’m a woman and I know he thinks I shouldn’t know how to get it out. “We’ll,” he says, “Third man come soon! No worry. Come in store. Have drink. Third man will get it out.” Seriously! And I wonder how many men are available. And don’t they have names?

I’m just about to drive off, straight to the bank and have the card cancelled, when I see third man coming. He’s the youngest of them. As he approaches the car I tell him to get some pliers to pull the card out. He tries and tries and I’m still suggesting he get some pliers. He finally says, “Pliers. Yes!” He walks down to the tire business next door and borrows some pliers. Of course he pulls the card right out. Now he says he’ll show me the correct way to use the card and the card is once again stuck in the pump!

Thank God we still have the pliers! Keep some in my glove compartment now. Maybe you should too.