Preferential Treatment

I have to drive almost a half an hour to get to the bank. I've banked with Wells Fargo since I lived in Bend where I only had to travel a few blocks to my closest branch. I only have to go to the bank about once a month; the drive is not a huge inconvenience.

Today I made my monthly trip to deposit a couple checks. Everything seemed perfectly normal. I dropped Kaeden off at school, stopped at StarBucks, and started on my journey. I had no idea that today I would not have just any ordinary bank experience. Today I was a Wells Fargo V.I.P.

When I pulled into the bank parking lot there was a woman walking through the front door and another woman getting out of her car. I sat for a minute, moved my wallet from my back pack to my purse, checked to make sure I didn't have make-up under my eyes or blueberry scone in my teeth, then made my way into the bank. The bank is made of glass - or at least the front of it is - so that the people inside can see out, but from the outside you can only see your reflection. I saw my reflection. I thought "I look like I just rolled out of bed, I walk like an oompa-loompa, and I don't really like my new haircut." I walked through the first set of double doors; I could see into the bank. Woman number one was already at the counter and woman number two looked like she was trying to decide where to go.

Just then, a man in a suit jumped up from a desk and rushed over to open the second door for me. Wow. I must REALLY look like an obese penguin. This guy feels sorry for me; it's the only rational explanation. He greeted me and followed me to the table where I began filling out a deposit slip. He asked how my morning was going or something to that effect, and walked away. When I looked up he was standing next to the teller closest to me and she announced that she could help me whenever I was ready. That time came and I approached the counter. "This is [so-and-so], our Districts Manager" she says "he's here to answer any questions you might have and to make sure all of your needs are being met." At this point I'm wondering what the heck is going on. He hung around for the entire transaction making small talk. It was obvious that his presence was making the teller nervous. Again, he asked me if I had any questions or concerns - which I did, about a particular line of credit - then they both gave me their business cards and told me not to hesitate to call so I ‘wouldn't have to make the long trip back to their branch’. The DM walked me to and opened the door, wished me a good day, and thanked me for my business. Through the inside window, I could see him return to his desk.

I am still completely baffled as to why this happened. Did he know I was coming? Did he recognize me? I have seen him before in another branch. Did I just inherit a multi-billion dollar fortune and he knows about it? I guess my friendly neighborhood Wells Fargo employees just like me – more than they like the other 5 or 6 people that were there this morning. I don’t know and I’m not complaining. I’m just confused.

how it really happened.

• boy approaches mother
• boy smacks mother in the back of the head
• mother chases boy
• mother flicks boy until he laughs so hard he almost pees
• boy runs away
• mother chases boy
• boy hides
• mother gives up on looking
• boy returns wielding laundry hamper as protection from further flicking
• mother trips boy
• boy and mother laugh
• boy runs away
• mother accuses boy of being a sissy la la
• boy denies being a sissy la la and smacks mother
• mother chases boy
• boy chases mother
• mother chases boy
• mother catches boy
• mother asks boy if he's done being a pest
• boy says yes
• boy continues being a pest
• mother tickles boy until he can't breathe
• boy runs away
• mother writes blog

Get Help

Hi.

So, there's this commercial. It's advertising some kind of help line for people with gambling problems. It starts out with 3 women standing at a public bathroom counter, you can hear music, and they're all putting on lipstick and touching up. The first woman says "Can you believe her? Her kids are at home alone every night and she's always borrowing money and she knows she cant pay it back." (or something to that effect, I didn't memorize the commercial). the second woman makes a similar comment and the third woman says "actually, I was her, until I got help". That is when the first two woman say "You're kidding" and "But you look so normal" and leave the bathroom. The woman they were apparently talking about then comes out of the stall and says to the woman who got help "Can I talk to you?" - then the voice over gives you the toll free number and blah blah blah...

I have a few problems with this.

The first is: THEY'RE in the casino too! If they're always there to see that this woman is spending so much time in the casino, aren't they spending too much time there too?

Second: This woman who supposedly "got help"... I know I don't even need to say it... SHE'S in the casino too! wow. I don't even wan't to elaborate on that. But I will. If you are an addict, I don't care what you're addicted to, and you seek help - from professionals - they will tell you that ANY relapse is still a relapse. You don't see recovered alcoholics (ya, the ones who actually want to stay quit) casually visiting bars on the regular. NO. This is where the commercial lost all credibility for me.

Third: It's a crap commercial! I'm glad I don't have a gambling problem, and I'm sorry if you do. You never know, though, you might just meet a recovering gambler in your local casino's bathroom and get some advice over appletini's.

Seriously.