Saturday morning a couple of my friends

and I decided to kill some time before my birthday celebration.

We went to the mall and once again I braved up by going into

THAT STORE. I swear I'm jinxed with that place.

I got a long sleeved green tee shirt and a green and white

striped shirt. I stood in line behind FIVE other

customers for the privilege of hanging those two items

in my closet.

It finally came my turn and I gave the sales woman the items

and scanned THE card. It was approved quickly and she asked

for my drivers license. I dug around in my purse and

gave her the license.

"Excuse me, is this your card?"

I said "it has my husband's

name on it but it is a JOINT account."

"Do you have a card with your name on it?"

I opened my purse for her to see and said, "yes I do have

a card with my name on it but as you can see I would have

to take up a lot of your time searching for it."

She then gave me one of those looks! You know the look,

like she caught you with your hand in the cookie jar.

I indulged her for a minute while I moved a bunch of STUFF

around in my purse searching for my card, while she drummed

her fingers on the counter.

"I'll have to call the office to see if I can get approval".

Making a BIG production of pushing buttons and then eying me

suspiciously, she proceeded to tell everyone that she had a customer trying to use her husband's card.

By that time my two FRIENDS had made their escape to the

other side of the store. (to think I used to look up to them for their bravery).

In an earlier time I would have called the manager and had an apology from her in a NY minute. However, I have

mellowed somewhat over the course of my aging so I held my

temper and waited patiently to see what the powers that be would do.

"You can use the card for this one time but that's all."

You've got to be kidding, I thought to myself.

I felt like using my best Scarlett voice and blessing her heart all over the place right then and there.

I signed the card with my name and then made eye contact with her.

"I've just come back from Virginia where I bought gas going

and coming, paid for several meals, flowers for my Aunt's

funeral and a hotel room for three days with this card.

All that was required was MY signature, not my husband"s,

it is a joint account. I turned to leave then turned back.

"I am so sorry to see that management has been lax in

training you for your position here, bless your heart."