My Mother Said...

My mother always told me to count the change. Whenever she sent me to the store, she would say, "And count the change." I always made sure I did. I wasn't going home and getting blamed for someone else's mistake. Today, (whenever I pay with cash) I try to be cognizant of the amount of the sale, how much I give the cashier and how much I get back.

My mother's words came back to me when I stopped at the ATM on my way home from work. I withdrew more cash than usual because I'm going on vacation. When the money popped out of the little slot, I grabbed the $20 bills and began counting. When I realized what a bad idea it is to stand in the little ATM area where anyone can be watching and count cash, I quickly tucked the money in my wallet and hurried out the door, holding on to my pocketbook. On the way to the car, I thought about why I do that and what a bad idea it is. I guess it's because my mother taught me to "count my change."