Barbara J. Hamby

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We Don’t Take Checks

Yesterday I had a light breakfast meal for lunch in a restaurant about 15 miles from home. I tucked the check and a $20.00 bill in the book I’d been reading, went to the restroom, and walked out the door without paying.  I tossed the book and my purse in the car and drove off without noticing the unusual bookmark.

I stopped to pick up some printer cartridges and noticed the $20.00 bill sticking out of the book when I picked up my purse.

When I got home I called the restaurant to explain and offered to mail them a check. The young man who answered the phone told me they don’t take checks and he would look for the charge. I told him what time I was in there and he couldn’t find the charge on the computer. He decided someone must have voided it already and told me I shouldn’t worry about it.

Actually, I had left a cash tip, and the charge was only $4.99, so it probably isn’t worth their trouble or mine to try to pay it. He said I could call the general manager today if I was still concerned, but I decided to let it go.

It does depress me slightly that I’ve become so forgetful, however.

I just read an article suggesting that we seniors keep a journal of our “senior moments,” so that we can monitor whether they become more frequent or not. The writer said that getting professional help early for any kind of dementia is important and keeping a record would assist in evaluating memory function. Sounds like a good idea; maybe I could remember to do that.