Today has been like no other. Went to oldest sister-in-law’s house to get a shirt her ironing lady starched up for me. She’s the sweetest little lady but will never let me pay her. Last time I put the money in with the money vet brother leaves for her. She got it out and left it on his desk. Today I paid her with a Hershey candy bar. Didn’t say no to that. My shirt looks better than when I bought it. If she ever decides not to work, oldest sister-in-law will have to learn how to use the iron and the can of starch.

Going out their front door I noticed a big pot of wandering jew was blooming. My mother always had pots of wandering jew every summer on the front porch but I never saw a bloom on them. The blooms were beautiful, three delicate tiny petals, colored in a deep pinkish purple mauve, snow white rounded stamens. Had to make a few photographs. I love tiny flowers and always think Mother Nature and God had a wonderful time with their watercolor brushes when creating and coloring flowers.

Not to be undone, youngest sister-in-law has a glorious hibiscus with three different colored blooms on it. I’m jealous. My yellow pansies just can’t take much more of this oppressive heat and dumb me planted them in the urns. Usually just put the pots in the urns so I can remove them if it hails or gets too hot. Maybe next week’s cooler temperatures will give them a break and I can bring them back to their glorious sunshiny selves.

Anyway, came home from the farm all happy and excited about my upcoming trip to the beach with my grandchildren. Two of them are having birthdays so I went to the teller machine at my bank to get their birthday money. Got out of the car this time because it’s awkward to reach the teller machine through my car window. Put the debit card in and accidentally type in the wrong number!! Locks my card up but after the receipt comes out I can pull the card out. The receipt says denied because of wrong PIN number. I’m frustrated with myself and mad, so I leave, forgetting I needed the birthday money for the children.

I head to the Dollar G for some cat food. Have no cash because it’s all in my Mason jar on my dresser so I whip out the debit card. It’s DENIED!! I had a major heart attack. The checker outer said just try again as the checkout line begins backing up. Denied again! I tell her I’m so sorry as people in line begin shuffling their feet and sighing. I leave without the cat food, mad as a wet hen, wondering what on earth I had done at the bank, hoping it was an easy fix. I had on my yard clothes and didn’t want to have to go inside the bank.

I go home and call the bank, three times!! Took 30 minutes and three phone calls to get it straightened out. First call I was told I needed a new PIN number. She gave me the number to call. I call and she tells me I have the wrong debit card. Proceeds to tell me this card was never activated. I’ve been using this card for almost two years I tell her. I just sat here with my mouth hanging open trying to understand. So I call the number she gives me and the computer tells me there is no card with this number. Almost in tears, I call the bank here again and ask for the sweet lady that helped me open the account last year but she was busy with a customer. I was just hoping this wasn’t going to mess up my trip. I am addicted to the debit card. Maybe I should write I was addicted.

So now I’m telling the sordid tale for a third time and the bank lady says, “Can you hold for a minute?” She probably had to laugh and compose herself before she could help me after hearing my story. Maybe it is time for me and Shady Oaks to get acquainted. Anyway, the card had been deactivated. Seriously. Asked me if I had made a $14 charge at Walmart Tuesday. Said that charge was flagged as fraudulent. Jesus save me! I told her I had confirmed that transaction on Tuesday afternoon as a legitimate charge as soon as I got the message.

While we were talking, I got a text from the bank and I didn’t know how to talk and access the text at the same time. The bank lady asked me to read the text to her. Yeah, like I knew how to do that. I told her if she’d tell me how to open the text while I was talking, I would. She just laughed and said it’s okay. She put me on hold again and when she came back she said my card was now active and I didn’t need a new PIN number. Thank God! Took me two years to remember this one.

So I go back to the bank after the phone calls to cash a check at the drive through window to get the kids’ birthday money. Wasn’t about to try the teller machine again. Hadn’t written a check for cash in years. I had to ask the lady how to do it. Kinda crazy, you make it out to yourself. Then I go to the Dollar G and get the cat food. The kind checker outer had put the cat food under the counter. She knew I’d be back for it. Told her I had been on the phone to the bank the whole time I was gone. Told her I had cash this time if the card was denied. Said a quick prayer, broke a sweat, and slid my debit card in the slot. Praise Jesus it worked!

Got home, worn out from the debacle of the debit card, wilted from the oppressive heat, sat down to begin writing and I remember 1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, because he cares for you.”

I found my peace and tranquillity this afternoon thanking God for the songbirds and squirrels I’m watching frolic in the bamboo branches outside my reading chair window. Life is full of up and downs and goofy days but that’s it what makes life so wonderful.

Enjoy the ride!

“You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down.” — Charlie Chaplin