Whilst standing in the month-end-queue in the bank, I slowly and deliberately count the ten R100 notes that I have to pay for arrears on my SABC-TV license. The red letter arrived a few days ago, threatening me with a possible law suit and the Credit Bureau!
Instinctively I wanted to fight back, explain, defend….but in the end I decided to give up and pay……….It’s ‘The Right Thing to Do’.
In the front of the queue an elderly lady requests a thousand rand from her account at the teller and is informed to insert her card and punch in her pin-number.
“Pin-number!!” the old lady exclaims. “I don’t have a pin-number! ...... What is that?
I sense uneasiness in the queue while the teller explains that it is the number you get for using your card at the machine to draw money.
“I don’t have a pin-number! NEVER had one! So what do I do now?” the old lady complains.
I notice ‘eye-aerobics’ going on in the queue. Some roll back up while others do side way glances.
“You must have a secret number mam” the teller tries again.
Silence.
“Oh…..YES! Yes I do”, the old lady cries,” Now I remember!”
Sighs from the queue.
The teller talks her through the procedure while the little old lady laughs and explains:
“I’m ninety years old, you know, and I do this every month, but I keep on forgetting!’’ She chuckles.
As she turns to leave, she faces the queue with an apologetic smile and says, “I’m so sorry for keeping you all up like this, but I’m ninety years old, you know, and I just keep on forgetting these things!”
Strained and stressed faces turn into empathetic smiles as everyone consoles and reassures her,” It was no problem at all!”
My eyes follow her through the glass door and I see as she collects a shopping cart, hooks her walking stick on the handrail and disappears into an aisle.
I notice the Indian lady behind me watching the exact same thing. Our eyes meet and we smile.
“How admirable” I say, “To do your banking and shopping on your own at that age!” So independent and with a sense of humor too.”
The Indian lady acknowledges my admiration and we start to share thoughts, feelings and fears on old age. She tells me about a book she had read called ‘LIFE’ written by an elderly lady and how it had inspired her.
“It’s all about the mind, to let go of the past, to guard against all negative thinking and develop appreciation for the simple insignificant things in life”, she says. “The mind can heal the body of any illness!”
Yes indeed, but in my case it’s easier said than done!
At last! It’s my turn at the teller. I push my money and deposit slip underneath the glass bullet-proof window. The teller frowns and looks at me. “This is an FNB account”, she says.
“Yes I know, it says so”, I confirm.
“Well, this is a Ned Bank outlet and you can’t do the transaction here!”
Then it hits me! Of course- idiot! The FNB branch is across the road!
Embarrassed I thank her. I dare not use my age as an excuse.
I hurry out to get to the next bank before it closes.
I immediately fall in line whilst pondering about the incident with the elderly lady.
Eventually I hand my money and letter to the teller and as I do, I realize with a shock that I have forgotten to complete a deposit slip!
But the teller is merciful and completes the slip for me while processing the transaction.
I leave feeling foolish and a little unnerved. And I’m ‘only fifty years old, you know’….. Forty years to go!
At home I share my bank experience with an old trusted friend and cautiously ask her if I might be showing signs of early Alzheimer’s?
“NO “she says,” in a reassuring tone,” it’s not Alzheimer’s”
It’s just ‘Some-timers’.
“Some-timers?” I enquire surprised.
“Yes, sometimes you remember and sometimes you don’t!”
We chuckle as we sip our tea and I’m starting to feel I little more at ease.
In South Africa today security plays a vital part in any business or private home. This book and the volumes to follow, will guide you step by step through the essential precautionary measures to be taken in protecting your family and valuables. From employing security guards, evacuation of your site and security measures to burglar bars and alarms in your private home.
a Book compiled by me from experience gained after 10 years in the security industry as Industrial relations officer with Nosa qualifications, 1st Aid, fire protection and also S.O.B. grade A.
Print this bite
Show the next latest work
