Today, I did the unthinkable. I’ve only done it once before, in Big Sur, and Debbie rescued me. It taught me to carry my checkbook in my purple briefcase, where I put my iPad and my iPhone. I never forget that, but have now TWICE forgotten my purse.
It wasn’t until I got to Cambria, a distance of 1 and 1/2 hours, and plenty of gas, that I realized it. I went to Robobank. I knew I was in trouble when I saw the sign on the front door – “Take off hat and sunglasses before entering bank.” So, I took off my hat. Of course, they refused to cash my check.
Then I thought of the Shell Station, where they know me from YEARS of going there. It also helps that they keep their employees around for a long time! God bless them, they cashed a check for $35.00. Breakfast is now covered. They will also accept a check to cover the cost of my gas. Woohoo! I can get home. I’m relatively certain that Cookie Crock will accept my check, even without proper ID, as I have been shopping there for absolutely forever.
Okay, now, I will put an emergency stash of cash in my Jeep.
Share your love of small towns and the personal touch!
Small towns… gotta love ’em! I keep a stash in the car, too. Now the next challenge is to remember where I put it? 😀
And DON’T post a picture of your Jeep.
Congrats on navigating through the plastic and paper prohibitions, Lord have mercy. There are youngsters in their 20’s working at the local gas station here who never heard of the fine tradition of ‘charging’ stuff in local stores, when I opined how I missed it. I don’t know how I or anyone else in Brooklyn could have gotten through the week without it. Rough world out there.
I think I already have posted a photo. But my stash would be small – just enough for gas to get home and back. 😉
bigsurkate, on a mountain top in Big Sur
I can relate. I left my wallet in my rental car when I returned it (San Francisco, I think), and I then took the car rental bus to the airport, and went to check in, but when they asked for my ID I looked for my wallet, but it wasn’t there. I then realized how dependent we are now in America on our identification cards. It’s great that you at least have some people who could vouch for you when you needed it, but I now realize how dependent we are now on ID. (The end of my story involved a deus ex machina in a way – a wonderful employee at the car rental agency hadd spotted my wallet in the returned car and actually forwarded it to the airport, so it was magically reunited with me in time for me to get home.)
Thanks, Kate, for another cool story.
😉 your story is pretty cool, too. I have had a couple stories like this one, which I will tell one day. Remind me to tell the story of Frank, soon.
bigsurkate, on a mountain top in Big Sur
Sometimes when I go for my morning walks without cash, I get too hungry to make it home without a bite to eat. I resort to the famous Wimpy line, “I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday…” After 10 years of doing this, I have yet to be turned down by any of the local business owners in downtown Monterey. I love that I can walk away with a sandwich and coffee using only a familiar face, a smile, and a promise to pay later. I always return the same day and give a hefty tip for the convenience.
Great story, Katie!
bigsurkate, on a mountain top in Big Sur