Lessons

I learned something today: automatic teller machines have time-limits. As in... one swipes one's card in the slot, keys in his transaction, the machine whirs and beeps, and money appears in the slot. Then the clock starts. If, at the end of the specified time limit...which appears to be about 30 seconds... you haven't retrieved your money from said slot, the machine EATS IT. The money returns from whence it came and you're left standing there, going "WTF?"

So. To make a long story short: I'm temporarily out $200.00. A quick call to my credit union and the kind folks working there tell me "not to worry" and my account will be credited immediately (and provisionally) for the missing two hundred bucks. A permanent credit will be issued once they hear from the financial institution that owns the machine and get their money back.

Let us pray this isn't the first shot in what could be a long war.

But... who knew, eh? I've been using ATMs for about 25 years and this is the very first time anything like this ever happened to me. You can bet it will be the LAST time, though.