Barbara J. Hamby

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Last of the Big Spenders

I have had a Discover card for many years and today is the second time their Security Department fraud investigators have called me. The first time someone had tried to buy a large amount of luggage with my card number. The card was in my purse, but they had the number, probably obtained on a cruise ship I’d recently been on. I was very grateful. Discover handled the matter and I heard no more about it.

Tonight when I got back from unpacking at the apartment, there was a message from Discover. I was advised to call immediately or the use of my card might be curtailed. I hoped it was because I’d made a purchase yesterday that was unusually large for me. When I called back, I was asked a half a dozen questions to confirm my identity, including what state I was living in when I got my first social security card. That was sixty-four years ago and I wasn’t certain of the answer, but I must have guessed right because he seemed satisfied that I was indeed the cardholder. He told me they were calling about a large Sears purchase made yesterday and I chuckled and said that I’d bought a washer and dryer. He thanked me for cooperating and I thanked him profusely for checking on it.

We are somewhere between 75 and 90% moved. Tonight Al is lining the attic storage area with used plywood, so that we don’t have to put our belongings up there in dirty insulation and debris left by roofers. I’m putting last minute things in boxes. I was going for a swim, but I fell asleep and woke up too late to make the deadline.

An old friend helped Al with the moving for several hours this afternoon and we all had a late lunch together. Old friend has been talking about moving, but hinted that, after today, he might change his mind. I guess it’s something like having a child. A few years later you forget how painful it was.