High Stress Wallet Games

This past week I had some fun little games played on me with my wallet.

The bus boys are still mighty playful but they seem to have too much time on their hands. This week, they decided to hide my wallet.

Go ahead… tell me how innocent they look!!!

I got up bright and early one morning to make a run to the big city for a whole slew of supplies – including a utility trailer.

However; my wallet was nowhere to be found. I searched and searched. Under couch, behind cabinets, every pair of pants I own… Nothing.

Yes, I even cleaned and vacuumed. Nothing.

I quickly began to fear that I had lost it somewhere in Grants, NM when I last visited there. That was the last time I recall actually seeing/using my wallet.

I checked all my online accounts and none of my credit/debit cards had been used. That was very good but I could imagine someone finding the wallet, pulling out the cash, and dumping the rest in the garbage. I know replacing the cards takes some time but it pretty simple. I was nervous about having to replace my driver’s license, social security card, and other not-so-easy-to-replace items.

Having ran out of places to search, I headed to Grants (65 miles). I stopped at every place I had visited during my last trip and asked if anyone had turned in a wallet. Nothing.

I stopped at the car wash I had used. Even got down and inspected the floor drain. Nothing.

At this point I was getting pretty nervous about not having my National ID (driver’s license). I try to keep a little cash in the Jeep – for emergencies – so had enough for a bit of gas but that was about it. That is a bad feeling!

I figured I had enough gas to get to the big city and hope the bank would give me some money without a license. If they wouldn’t, I’d be a new member of the living on the streets crowd as I would not have enough gas to get back home.

So, with passport in hand, I continued on to the big city. I stopped at the bank – with my passport – and SUCCESS!! They allowed me to extract a good bit of cash. This is probably what I would be living on for a while until I could get replacements credit/debit cards. Suddenly, I felt MUCH better! It was still unclear WHO I was actually was – without a National ID (driver’s license) to prove it. However; I could at least afford to get some supplies and get home.

I went on to the Tractor Supply store to purchase the utility trailer. Guess what! They require a driver’s license (which is really a Motor Vehicle Operator License) to purchase a trailer?!?! That makes ZERO sense. Just plain crazy! I love it when attorney’s get involved with simple transactions. I can only guess that they have decided to be “responsible” that whoever buys a trailer is properly licensed and insured (they required proof of insurance too). They have absolutely no business sticking their fingers into that. Next thing you know, they will require proof of chainsaw license before selling a chainsaw, proof of crescent wrench license before selling a crescent wrench, maybe even proof of owning a cat before selling cat food!

Ridiculous!

No utility trailer meant the five hour round trip would be a big waste. I accomplished a few small things but nothing compared to what I had planned. On a positive note, visiting with my friends there is always a great thing and I was able to spend a wee bit of time with them.

Arriving back home – tired and frustrated – I sat the bus boys down and told them that I really NEEDED that wallet and, if they were playing games, please tell me.

Sure enough, they marched me back to the bedroom and there it was, tucked into the partially open lid of a cardboard box nightstand. Yeah, my nightstand is an empty cardboard box turned on its side. Don’t laugh!! It was very affordable!!

PHEWWWW….

What a relief but oh… the games kitty’s play….

I looked at my driver’s license again just to make sure I was who I thought I was.