This never happens

“This never happens.”
Oh, but I think it does.
Isn’t it funny how when you’re around... things that “never” happen, happen. Like, take babies, for instance. The one time you go out with friends and their child is cranky (kicking and screaming bloody murder), they look at you with bewildered eyes and say it’s strange, because this never happens. Mmm, sure.
Someone’s late to a meeting and as they rush in they say there was traffic and there’s never traffic on that particular road. Mmm, sure.

Well, I pulled a “this never happens” yesterday.
After being out of town for five days, I returned home to a short stack of mail, one being my credit card bill. Now, let me pause here and tell you--admit to you--some things about myself. I have never been late on a bill. Never. I have an Excel spreadsheet that actually charts all my bills, when I pay them, how much they are. I still balance my checkbook by hand. In addition, I periodically check online to make sure the computer’s record of my account is right (notice I said the computer, not me, because I know I’m right :) ). When it comes to credit cards, I was taught that you must always pay off your credit card at the end of the month. If you know you’re not going to be able to do that, then don’t use it. So, I have always paid it off at the end of the month. And this was recently proven when I went to get pre-approval for a house and the lender told me I had some of the best credit he had ever seen. I only tell you this to exemplify how what I’m about to tell you never happens.

So, I open my credit card bill and there is one new charge. LATE FEE: $29. I flipped. What!? That’s all it says. No explanation. I call the 1.800 line and listen to music for 4 minutes and 32 second. And then Holly answers and asks how she can help me. I say she can help by explaining the $29. What’s it for? She tells me it's because I never paid my bill from last month and thus, have a $29 LATE fee.

I wish I could have heard myself. I’m sure I sounded hilarious. I ridiculously told Holly, “this never happens!” And it doesn’t! And as I told her this, I began making a mental note of all the places I needed to go to confirm that I was not mistaken. But, strangely enough, my hand-balanced checkbook did not show a payment. That wasn’t proof enough though. I went online to see if I had forgotten to document it, but it had already been cashed by the bank. Nope. Not there either. I went home and rummaged through my credit card file (you had to know I have a filing system!). I file all my statements and last month’s statement is just not there. Nothing. I have June, July, September. NO AUGUST.

I didn’t pay my credit card bill last month. I really don’t know how this happened because I can’t imagine I received it in the mail and just didn’t pay it. (So, maybe I can blame the mailman.) But nevertheless, it was not paid. I immediately went back online last night and paid it...I mean because even though now it’s not due for like two weeks, hours matter. I’m sure said Credit Card Company is going to cut me some slack when they see that I paid at 8:05pm versus 7:38am the next morning.

Anyways. It was a little mini-lesson in understanding and giving others the benefit of the doubt. I know Holly’s eyes were rolling when I said “this never happens.” And they probably would have rolled harder if I shared with her what I just shared with you regarding my financial upkeep. But I promise not to roll my eyes next time you tell me "this never happens!"