“Hello Ms. Rinehart and thank you for calling Adventure Airlines American Express. I see you’ve been a valued American Express member since December, 2007. We’re so grateful to have you as our loyal customer. My name is Wanda. How are you today?”

I don’t have to introduce myself to Wanda or give her my account number because I spent the last 10 minutes entering all my personal information, save for how many hours I was in labor with my first child, via touch tone.

“Hello Wanda. I’m pretty good, despite this cold I’ve had for over 2 weeks, but thanks for asking. How are you?”

“I’m well, thank you. Thanks so much! You drinking your orange juice?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now how can I help you today?”

“I’d like to cancel my credit card.” Wait a minute; she should have known that already because I punched in option #4 for “Cancel existing accounts”.

“I can do that for you.”

“Great!”

“May I ask why you’re canceling?”

“We’re consolidating.”

“I understand. But if you renew this card at the $89 fee and buy a ticket on Adventure Airlines you’ll get a companion ticket for only $99.”

“No thank you. Just cancel the card, please.”

“Aren’t you going to fly anymore?”

“Yes, but we never fly AA any more. Just cancel the card please.”

“I can do that. But we have other cards with—”

“No thank you, Wanda. We’re consolidating. Just cancel the card.”

“I can do that. Would you tell me what card you’ll be using instead of your Adventure Airlines American Express card?”

“Er, uh, no! We’re CONSOLODATING. Would you please just cancel this card?”

“I can do that. Are you taking vitamin C?”

“Wanda, pa leeeze just cancel this card!”

Suddenly Wanda wasn’t so chipper. She read me the cancelation policy like my Miranda rights. Before my sweaty palms could set my phone down, it rang again. “Karen, hey!! It’s Soozie from book club. How ARE you? Oh my gosh it’s been like a million years since I’ve seen you!”

Probably because I quit book club last year and that was the only time I ever saw her. “I’m swell, Sooz. How ’bout you?”

“I’m ga reat! I’m sooo excited about my Beading Beauties business and I want you to come to my next home party!”

“Oh thanks Soozie, but I’m not crafty—”

“You don’t have to be! It’s Thursday night from 7-10.”

“Sorry, Soozie. My husband’s out of town and I don’t have a sitter.”

“I’ll send my Sissy over! No charge!”

“That’s awfully sweet but it’s a school night and –”

“She’s very reliable.”

“I know, but I really can’t afford to buy anything right now.”

“You don’t have to! Just come eat some food.”

“I’m dieting.”

“Then just have a glass of wine!”

“Soozie? Gotta run. The dog just barfed on my new carpet.”

“Oh I’ll have the perfect cleaner for you at my next Home Cleaning Miracles party…!”

 

Feel free to forward this to that person who never takes No for an answer. And share with us how you get out of going to all those nagging events!