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Saturday, December 10, 2011

~ $5.37 ~

by Tina~in_ut

My mother-in-law sends me these jokes.  I just recently found out that she sends me the ones about being old to subtly tell me that I'M old!!~ That wench~ I thought I'd pass this on to the truly aged~
:)~

  


$5.37...that's what the kid behind the counter at Taco Bell said to me. I dug into my pocket and pulled out some lint and two dimes and something that used to be a Jolly Rancher. Having already handed the kid a five-spot, I started to head back out to the truck to grab some change when the kid with the Elmo hairdo said the hardest thing anyone has ever said to me. 

He said, "It's OK. I'll just give you the... Senior citizen discount."

I turned to see who he was talking to and then heard the sound of change hitting the counter in front of me"Only $4.68" he said cheerfully.

I stood there stupefied. I am 56, not even 60 yet? A mere child! Senior citizen?

I took my burrito and walked out to the truck wondering what was wrong with Elmo. Was he blind?
As I sat in the truck, my blood began to boil. Old? Me?

I'll show him, I thought. I opened the door and headed back inside. I strode to the counter, and there he was waiting with a smile.

Before I could say a word, he held up something and jingled it in front of me, like I could be that easily distracted! What am I now? A toddler?


"Dude! Can't get too far without your car keys, eh?" 


I stared with utter disdain at the keys. I began to rationalize in my mind! 

"Leaving keys behind hardly makes a man elderly! It could happen to anyone!"

 
I turned and headed back to the truck. I slipped the key into the ignition, but it wouldn't turn. What now? I checked my keys and tried another. Still nothing.

That's when I noticed the 
purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror. I had no purple beads hanging from my rear view mirror.

Then, a few other objects came into focus:
The car seat in the back seat.
Happy Meal toys spread all over the floorboard.
A partially eaten doughnut on the dashboard.

Faster than you can say 
ginkgo biloba, I flew out of the alien vehicle.

Moments later I was speeding out of the parking lot, relieved to finally be leaving this nightmarish
stop in my life. That is when I felt it, deep in the bowels of my stomach: hunger! My stomach growled and churned, and I reached to grab my burrito, only it was nowhere to be found.

I swung the truck around, gathered my courage, and strode back into the restaurant one final time.
There Elmo stood, draped in youth and black nail polish. All I could think was, "What is the world coming to?" All I could say was, "Did I leave my food and drink in here"? At this point I was ready to ask a Boy Scout to help me back to my vehicle, and then go straight home and apply for Social Security benefits.

Elmo had no clue. I walked back out to the truck, and suddenly a young lad came up and tugged on
my jeans to get my attention. He was holding up a drink and a bag. His mother explained, "I think you left this in my truck by mistake." I took the food and drink from the little boy and sheepishly apologized.

She offered these kind words: 
"It's OK... My grandfather does stuff like this all the time."
All of this is to explain how I got a ticket doing 85 in a 40 mph zone. 

Yessss, I was racing some punk kid in a Toyota Prius. And no, I told the officer, I'm not too old to be driving this fast.

As I walked in the front door, my wife met me halfway down the hall.
I handed her a bag of cold food and a $300 speeding ticket I promptly sat in my rocking chair and covered up my legs with a blankey.

The good news was I had successfully found my way home.

13 comments:

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Splat!

Shirley(NCC-1701) said...

Tina what did hubby say when you told him you were writing a blog about him?

DeeDee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

DeeDee you old heifer!

That was a Madonna costume last Halloween!! I have not started wearing my underwear on top of my clothes!!

Dianne/Denver said...

Tina, I loved this blog- very funny just a little too close to home

DeeDee said...

Oh Shuddup Wanda....

Just_Lin said...

Shirley You started the day off with a zinger. Good for you! Sunshine must become you. Congrats on being the first to splat today.

Just_Lin said...

Tina This morning I went to top off the little container I keep non-dairy creamer in and noticed I was pouring sugar in it. Hmmmm. I couldn't be getting old, could I?

Just_Lin said...

Dianne We don't really resemble that in any way, right? I said......RIGHT?

Just_Lin said...

Michael Where are you? Do you plan on hiding behind DeeDee and Wanda all day? Never know what adventures and mischief those two will be involved in.

Dianne/Denver said...

JL---WHAT? Hi

Unknown said...

oh DeeDee's just showing off her hat and coat....

DIANNE...
J/L SAID THAT YOU AND SHE DO NOT RESEMBLE THAT STORY AT ALL...RIGHT?

that story reminds me of myself in all the ways outlined....

Hi J/L and Shirley...

J/L...sugar in creamer sounds good....

Just_Lin said...

Michael Well, I do believe that non-dairy creamer already has some sugar in it.