I also remembered something about yesterday's short trip out that I'll identify as the start of this 24-hour Mercury run: I had to go to Petco for a few extra days worth of Mikey's food, and then to Shop Rite for myself. Fortunately -- FORTUNATELY, I tell you -- I'd decided to do Petco first. I took all of two minutes gathering what I wanted in cat food, and went to the checkout lines. The guy asked me if I had the (whatever they call it) card or I could just give my phone number. I said "yes, I do, and I also have to ask you to please hold these items for me for a short time because I LEFT THE HOUSE WITHOUT MY WALLET".
I had broken routine, you see. I have a little checklist thing I say to myself when starting the car, to account for keys, wallet, and phone. And I distinctly remembered not doing it on my way out. Thankfully, it's but a 7-minute drive between the house and Petco, so I retrieved the wallet, went back and paid for the goods, and the clerk and I had a good laugh over it. And here's why I emphasized FORTUNATELY earlier. If I'd gone to Shop Rite first, I would have spent a good 20 to 30 minutes looking around and picking out everything I wanted before finding myself with no wallet. That, I believe, ladies and germs, would have been the straw that killed me.
