ATMs were new in the 1980s, but we felt we were pretty savvy in how to use them after a few scares — like the panic you felt when it first grabbed your card, or the fear that you would forget your password, or the worry about that guy that was lurking behind you in line.

That last one didn’t seem the threat that it does these days. Or was it because I was younger and hadn’t yet developed the fears that an old person like me has.

To think I thought my mother was crazy to worry about that guy that might ” jump over her gate, break in the back door and hit her over the head with a bat.”

True story (the fear; not an actual event)

related to my daughter who was living with my parents at the time. She was upset because my daughter would always arrive home so late. Mom didn’t understand college students.

But, to return to topic: We were on our way to northern Arizona for a camping trip with friends.  Our little motorhome was really cute, even tho’ it was decorated in the old sixties’ colors of orange and brown.  How did we ever think that was a good color combination?  In my mind’s eye I see men in brown polyester bell-bottoms with a silky (still polyester, however), long-sleeved, long-pointed collar shirt.  Orange of course. Oh, and don’t forget the white shoes and belt.

In the motorhome we didn’t mind the colors so much.  I bought it from an old retired couple (much like us now) while my husband was out of town on a business trip.  I didn’t think a thing about it – like I do now when making a money decision. We could afford it with both of us working, naturally? Now I give considerable thought to what cut of meat I should buy.

We packed up the motorhome with lots of goodies – more goodies than greens, and took off.  But first we thought we should carry a little cash with us – you never know what’s accepted in a general store out in the forest, after all.

Our plan was to stop at the ATM at the Wells Fargo Bank – such an appropriate name for the desert southwest – just down the street from us in Scottsdale.  

Gas stations were few and far between in Scottsdale and Phoenix in those days, but banks were on every corner. We had heard that the Mafia considered Arizona neutral ground. Maybe they needed lots of banks to store their copious amounts of money?

My husband, who was and is prone to be – shall we say, excitable – jumped out of the motorhome to quickly grab some cash from the ATM. He wasn’t there long.

Almost immediately I saw him march back to the camper to announce to us that “There is 0NLY NINETY-SEVEN CENTS! in the account! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT?”  

Considering our children were five and nine years of age, I’m pretty sure he blamed me.

After everyone (just he needed to) cooled down, we decided to continue with our trip.  

Half-way to Flagstaff, we heard a loud pop.  Flat tire. No money was our first thought, of course. Will we die of thirst on the hot highway? Will we starve after we finish all our goodies and greens?

We must have had a credit card because I don’t remember pan-handling on the freeway or putting a For Sale sign around the necks of our young, really cute children.

I do remember feeling a little panic. This would have never happened to my parents, or his parents for that matter.

I believe it was because they did not live with a “credit card mind.” Even in their advanced years, I think they only had one credit card, and that was for gas. They paid cash for everything — even their cars.

So did we learn a lesson? Not exactly. We still fret about money, but we do check our account via computer almost daily just to make sure there’s more than NINETY-SEVEN CENTS.

Besides, if that were true, our bank — still Wells Fargo — would let us know.

Everyone LETS US KNOW when any payments are due, or when our account is running low.

For example, AT&T sends me texts, letters, and emails when our payment due date is approaching — starting about two weeks before it’s due, and I have ALWAYS paid them on time, but perhaps they know about that day we stopped by to grab a little cash and only NINETY-SEVEN CENTS was available.

The End.