Hard Spent Karma–a post from November 2005

§ July 30th, 2007 § Filed under Uncategorized § No Comments

Once I did write on subjects other than the blogging mojos. I cleaned up the post. I do write differently now.

It’s been raining since last night. At times there’s been thunder and lightening but it’s cold and my building either has too much heat or no heat. It’s the later tonight. I had a 10:30 dentist appointment, and left for it at 9:45. Most people wouldn’t have even bothered trying to get a cab but would have taken a crosstown bus and another going down Fifth. But would I? No. I think I’m made of money and always rationalize that since I would have walked if the weather had been nice…

It took fifteen minutes to get a cab; my building entrance is off Riverside Drive, and cabs are on West End, so having a doorman does absolutely no good in a rain/cab situation.

Got in the cab and for some reason looked for my wallet. I had left it home. We finally got to the building. The fare was $6.50 and I found $6.82, I gave him $6.80 and apologized for the 30 cent tip.

The cab driver could have come from infinite ethnic groups, had a familiar but not instantly placeable accent, and his name had been Americanized which I found strange. He threw money back to me.

“What did you do that for?”

“Too little money.”

Usually I overtip for karma but I just didn’t have it. The dentists office suite is in a large building my sister and I cleverly call “the dentists building,” because there are so many dentists. It’s on Fifth and 61st; just two blocks from my old apartment, and many people still call it “the new building,” though it was built 20something years ago.

I held up one of the quarters he had thrown:
“I gave you $2.75 in quarters plus four singles.”
“No. My money.”
“No. That was my laundry money.”

Laundry money is sacred. People who don’t have washer dryers, don’t have washer dryers in their building that accepts a card, or send their laundry out collect quarters. It hurt when I counted the quarters and gave it to him. I’m the person who always figures out the check.

I have never cheated a person out of money. It’s not who I am.

He tried locking me in the cab. I waved to a doorman who came over, and the cab driver had to let me out. Now I didn’t have any money to tip the doorman. While I don’t live in this building, I spend more time in than some people who work in it. The doormen are wonderful.

All the money I have spent on Karma this past year was gone in two minutes.

Never have a checkbook with me, but I was going to deposit a check and had brought it with me instead of my wallet; the onset of dementia, I know.

Though I’m naturally too fast, I slow myself down to do things extra carefully; otherwise I make truly stupid mistakes. I gave my dentist a check for $20, and was able to get home.

The dentist appointment was virtually pain free; I walked down to Barneys and got a cab immediately. Had been planning to go to Barneys but without credit cards or a bank card…or any ID to show with my check, the safest and only place for me to be was home.

Don’t give up all your hard spent Karma. Never forget your money

Be Sociable, Share!

•