Misfits box, skirts, banks and ignoring

Yesterday's misfits arrived, bringing shrimp for various good meal ideas, and other vital foods such as beautiful eggs,  apricots and blueberries.

We're in a period of downpours alternating with hot sunshine, bringing on plants and weeds with great fervor. Also mosquitoes, after a late start, are well under way.  I haven't even switched on the outside water faucet yet.  The high humidity has rendered my hair Very Bushy, but my dry skin loves it.

And there have been interesting adventures with banks, this time Wells Fargo, the one my cleaning family use, mainly for the handy ATM. 

Last month the bank said it couldn't process the check I'd written them, no explanation, just refused it. So I sent them a replacement, deciding to watch my own bank account in case of shenanigans. I didn't cancel the first check, not wanting to incur a steep fee. 

Then the cleaning family emailed to say the bank wrote them to say it was going to process the first one after all. No explanation. I checked my own account, and, as I thought, the first check was processed after the second one, within a day. 

Does this mean their robot learned my handwriting? That they found the bundle of deposited checks they'd dropped on  the floor?  That they decided I wasn't an international bank robber?  That I wasn't one of the many African American residents of the state with my last name? 

Don't dismiss that last one. I've had a number of abusive exchanges with officials who thought they were dealing with a minority. A tiny flash of insight into the daily experience of a real minority person.

At any rate, good thing I had the funds to cover both checks. That could have been a squeaker for somebody who didn't keep a comfortable balance.

Speaking of which, I have the proud accomplishment of being one of the few individuals who forced Bank of America to rescind a fee they'd charged for falling below the minimum balance. 

I took them on and pointed out that the date stamp on their fee was later than the deposit of my social security payment, which brought the balance over the minimum. 

I explained I'd be glad to let the state banking commission know about this practice, nothing like threats to get action. Whereupon they agreed, for this one time, they emphasized (face-saving measure) they'd drop the charge. They really can't argue with a government payment, but they didn't get into that. 

So I guess it's a draw, banking vs Boud.

And I've been thinking about families lately, and finally come to realize that it was  after I quietly stopped reaching out to siblings who either ignored or dismissed my attempts, that I got wind, via other friends,  of massive fights and feuds among them.  

It dawned on me that as long as I was available to ignore, they were united in ignoring. Then when I wasn't any more, they turned their energies onto each other. Oh. It does make sense. 

Remember the old joke that parents are there for kids to ignore? It works in other contexts.

Families are a weird invention!  I like more the one I've assembled from friends. It's a luxury to be free to think aloud in here! I don't mind disagreement, but I no longer have to cope with having my lived experience denied. It's nice (!). And these are the same people who spoke warmly about me to other relatives -- word gets back. Mystery.

Meanwhile the last of the summer skirt collection is finished and being worn

Happy day, everyone, everything's funny eventually!