
Moments after this inglorious act, she was interrogated by an aggressive Inner Critic. Her response was pitiful, blaming the lapse on a temporary resurgence of the primitive reptile lurking in her brain.
She apologized profusely and agreed to the Inner Critic’s demands: expiation could come only via a detailed public recitation of the sorry episode. If the specifics bored her readers to the point that they clicked off, so much the better.
Herewith:
“I was rushing to get downstairs—not sure why. In one hand, I carried a garment that requires a cold water hand wash. I routinely do this task in the bathroom sink right near the stairs.
“In the other hand, I clutched the small cotton string-tied bag I’ve been using in lieu of the thick wallet that weighed heavily in my pocketbook.
“My plan was to return said bag to said pocketbook, which was hanging on the post at the bottom of the stairs.
“Efficiently, I thought, I closed the drain, turned on the cold water tap, and poured a small capful of the liquid soap into the sink.
“(If this were a sponsored blog, I would tell you that the liquid soap is Woolite and maybe earn a few cents. But it isn’t.)
“I suspect that was the moment when everything went awry. Though I completed Steps (1) and (2) above with my right (dominant) hand, pouring the liquid into the cap before emptying it into the sink required the collaborative use of both hands.
“Then with my right hand, I dropped the garment into the sudsy water and swished it around. However—and this is the best attempt at reconstructing events that my prefrontal cortex could help me achieve—I must have transferred the small cotton string-tied bag from my left hand to my right during the pouring of the soap.
“When I swished, I saw two items in the sink: the garment and my substitute wallet.
“Thinking quickly, while a sturdy Anglo-Saxon expletive escaped my lips, I swooped up the now-drenched small cotton string-tied bag and carried it, drippingly, the fifteen or so steps into my bedroom.
“There, I rapidly converted the middle of my long dresser into a drying table: first laying plastic bags side by side, then placing doubled-over paper towels on top of them.
“I retrieved the contents: license and insurance cards in one rubber band; credit cards in another; and cash held together by a large (blue) paper clip.
“(The degree of organization I’m describing here had pleased my fairly disorderly self, I must admit.)
“ I dried the pieces of plastic first, then turned to the paper money.
“I am happy to report that two Andrew Jacksons, one Alexander Hamilton, two Abraham Lincolns, and three George Washingtons have all survived intact. Indeed, they cleaned up rather nicely. (See photo above.)
“My credit cards’ viability will require an onsite test.”
The Inner Critic asked Annie the Blogger if she’d learned any lessons.
She was non-committal, apparently trying to end this episode by refusing to rise to the Inner Critic’s baiting Inner Criticism (as in “Pretty stupid, don’t ya think?” or “What? You thought you could accomplish this small degree of multitasking without repercussions?”).
She did, however, express appreciation to any reader who has reached this point.
*Annie*
These things happen to us all.
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You’re very kind, whungerford. I actually find it easy to poke fun at myself.
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I would not be so hard on your laundress, Annie; after all, she returned the greenbacks and credit cards.
Rgds,
Tengrain
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Quite so, Tengrain—and in better shape than before. I guess it was time for those old white guys to take a bath after all these years!
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Annie, and that is the answer to the $63 question. It was in the wash. Keith
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Indeed, Keith! But $63? Perhaps that last dollar is wrapped around a missing sock…
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Agreed. We are showing our age by knowing this dollar figure. Keith
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Ow my, what a story
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Hi, there! Thanks for your visit and comment.
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These things do happen. I’ve had a couple of jobs where I was in charge of issuing reimbursements to employees for expenses, and I remember a couple of times when somebody asked for a replacement check because they’d left the original one in their pocket when they washed their clothes, turning it to mush. At least you got the cash out before it was ruined.
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Right, and my credit cards are functioning too. Fortunately, nobody’d given me a check for a large (or even small) amount of money.
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Money and credit cards are extremely tough. I’ve run the things through full cycles on the washing machine and dryer without incident.
I multi-tasked my pinking sheers straight into the compost bin a couple weeks ago. Didn’t figure out where they were until the next day.
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Glad you didn’t stab yourself!
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Make that pruning shears. 🙂
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I automatically translated and hadn’t even noticed!
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The American dollar is strong! And I’m pulling for your credit card to work. I think it will.
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That’s great, Neil! Joe Biden and I both thank you for that uplifting comment. And you’re right about my credit cards. A happy ending here.
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‘A sturdy Anglo – Saxon expletive’ – just fantastic.
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Thank you, Matthew!
Note: I tried to contact you via Twitter bc I saw no way to congratulate you on your blog post re: Foundering. Bravo!
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Thanks Annie. Doubtless my clumsy fingers pressed something they shouldn’t have!
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Another possibility, Matthew, is that I missed something right before my eyes…
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Heh, we have Mylar plastic bills so no problem with water. But we can’t iron them like you can.
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Hi, DougD. That’s all I’d need: a slightly overheated iron or a few seconds inattention could have turned my money laundering into a pyre of old presidential visages.
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Well written Annie……I especially liked the “sturdy Anglo-Saxon expletive!” I always wondered what money-laundering actually involved and now I know!
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Thanks, Joni. Now you know Annie’s version—but like the more felonious one, you shouldn’t take this one to the bank either!
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Oh Annie … don’t let your Inner Critic be so hard on you!!! I’ve laundered money many, many times! It comes out germ-free! I even washed my late-ex-husband’s paycheck one time … that didn’t come out so good! 😉
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Thanks, Jill. Appreciate your concern. In truth, I exaggerated a bit for dramatic—or I hoped slightly comedic—effect.
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Oh, I knew you had embellished a bit! 😉 It was comedic and I laughed!
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I’m very happy that you laughed, Jill!
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😊
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Oy- But amazing how you were able to recount in such detail what probably, could have, must have, I’m sure it did, how else could it have, no one else there to blame it on,- vey!
Thanks for sharing, DtD
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?? You’re welcome, DtD.
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Hurrah that all is well after this accidental money (and credit cards, license, and other important stuff) laundering!
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Thanks, Will. Always good to hear from you!
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Oh no! This was merely bad luck, I’m sure that we’ve all had moments like these. By the way, I loved the way this post was written. It had me holding on until the end and even made me chuckle here and there 😊
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Thanks very much, Simone. A chuckle here and there was my hope for this little saga.
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Ha! It’s challenging to be human. Thanks for the laugh!
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It sure is, Denise. You’re most welcome; so pleased you laughed!
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