I left my ATM card at Harry Carey’s on Navy Pier last night. Navy Pier is *the* Midwest attraction. It is a plethora of chain restaurants, kiosks selling chatkeys and hordes of tourists. The only reasons I go to Navy Pier is for the Imax movie experience or -and more importantly- the world renowned Chicago Shakespeare Theater. I was there for a Shakes show last night. Jen and I split a veggie burger and the check. I believe in our curtain scooting I left my ATM card tucked into the check receptacle.
Navy Pier is not an easy commute for me. At night from my office, I take the 77 bus to the Red Line train to the 66 bus. When I’m getting rewarded with a show, the schlepp doesn’t seem so daunting. When I know I’m only going out to correct my stupidity, the double commute whammy of bus-train-bus-bus-train-bus is overwhelming. It’ll take me 1-2 hours depending on traffic and good CTA karma. And besides this barf-tastic commute, the worst part is there is no one to blame but me. This is my complete screw up. Poop!
I rarely have cash on me. Because if I’m carrying, I’m using. My Sunday tips go quickly in a flurry of impulse buys… a cab here, a dinner there, a mani/pedi here, a glass of wine there. By Wednesday, I’m usually spent. In fact, last night I used my last five to tip the Shakes bartender. Using my ATM card keeps me from spending quite so fast and furious. Buying something like mints becomes a deliberate decision. And even though most places now allow small purchases via plastic without penalty, the swipe-and-go action does make me pause. I hesitate. I have to decide if it’s worth the effort. That’s a good thing. The bonus is I have a list of my transactions so I can scrutinize my spending habits. It keeps me in check and balance mode.
So, today I need to go to the bank at 9am and write an old-fashioned check. I need lunch money. I can’t cobble together any meal from the scarcity in my frig. I need cash. I rarely write checks anymore. My bill payments are all online. I rarely even go to the bank anymore. Not only do I have direct deposit but 53rd has gone to a picture taking deposit system. I literally take a picture of the check and send it to my bank account. I don’t get how it works. It just seems like modern day magic. When I manage the process successfully, I feel every bit the sorceress. Of course, if I really had magical powers, I would have my ATM card in my hand with a twitch of my nose or bop of my head.
Instead, this human has to wait until 9am when the bank opens and then trudge to work late…in the rain. Thursday is already ‘one of those days.’