• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives
  • 100 Words

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

A Few Thoughts from Aunt Doris: Well … It Didn’t Seem Funny at the Time!

By Aunt Doris

Aunt Doris (circa the good ol’ days)

Every once in awhile, almost everyone says or does something so goofy or dumb that they wish the floor would just open and swallow them whole.

When that happens to you, don’t despair; it will eventually become an amusing incident. Lord knows I’ve had more than a few of them over the years — and I’m going to share some with you now.

Skirt Chasing

Many years ago, I got hired by a brand new department store that was opening up in town.

The day before the grand opening, me and the rest of the staff were checking the store merchandise. I happened to be working in close-quarters with several workmen who were putting some last-minute fixes on the store cabinets. One of the guys was crouching down behind me, with our backs to each other.

Then he got up.

Unbeknownst to either of us, the hammer in his back pocket had inadvertently become hooked under my skirt — and as he rose, my skirt came up with him.

Completely startled by what was happening, I hollered at the top of my lungs, “Hey!”

That poor guy was so embarrassed. The entire staff and work crew had a good laugh over that one. By the way, I ended up working there for 25 years!

Pill Poppin’

I used to be just a “One-a-Day” vitamin taker, along with a little echinacea and L-lysine — the latter being great for stopping those pesky lip cold sores. Not any more. Now I take a half-dozen prescriptions (doctors’ orders) that come with Greek-sounding names.

Recently, my daughter-in-law, Chris, and I were going over my prescriptions. I picked up one of the bottles, but it seemed unfamiliar to me. “What the heck am I taking this for?” I asked her.

“Memory,” she said.

A Malodorous Affair

Not too long ago, I thought I smelled a gas leak in my kitchen. I checked the stove and burners but couldn’t figure out where the leak was coming from, so I called the gas company and they immediately sent a guy out to find and fix it. He checked everything, but couldn’t find the leak either.

Then he noticed something next to the stove. “What’s in that jar with the holes in the lid?” he asked.

And there it was! The source of the dreaded gas “leak” was a moldy clove of garlic in the garlic jar.

I was so embarrassed, but the service guy tried to make me feel better by saying that they got lots of calls like mine.

Better safe than sorry!

An Indecent Proposal

A few years ago I was out shopping and two transients saw me and started a conversation. After a while, the older one suddenly said, “Hey! We should go to Vegas and get married!”

“I don’t think so!” I said. I then quickly ran into the shop next door to get away from them.

Later that evening, I called my son, Kevin, and said, “Hey! Today I almost got you a new dad!”

Kevin wasn’t amused — I got the usual lecture from him about not smiling at complete strangers.

“I do seem to attract odd people,” I said.

“Well, it takes one to know one,” said my son.

And, of course, we ended up laughing about that.

So don’t feel bad about those kind of goofs. That’s life!

Love you guys,

Aunt Doris

***

This is a post in an occasional series from my dear Aunt Doris, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 94. The article was originally published on 12 June 2013.

February 15, 2023

Comments

  1. 1

    Free Money Minute says

    Funny stuff. Not sure I want to live into my nineties, but if I do, I hope I have a sense of humor like yours. Thanks for getting my Wednesday off to a good start.

  2. 2

    Sandy says

    I’m not 90, but forgetting what the pills are for is me exactly.

  3. 3

    Mike@WeOnlyDoThisOnce says

    What a great idea to interview her for a post–she sounds like quite the character.

  4. 4

    Doable Finance says

    Those were the good ol’ days.

    Skirt Chasing
    If it happens today, a girl will be all over the guy. About 10 years ago, I worked in the city for an investment company. In one of the meetings, a girl from marketing was sitting in front of me. When she crossed her legs, I could see she was not wearing anything under. I mean nothing. Girls act quite differently these days. And she smiled when she noticed me looking at the place.

  5. 5

    maria@moneyprinciple says

    I like Aunt Doris and think that if I ever mneet her we may become good friends. I am pill-popping as well btw :).

  6. 6

    Joe @ Retire By 40 says

    Thanks for the laugh. 🙂

  7. 7

    Monevator says

    Super Aunt Doris as ever. 🙂

The Question of the Week:

Do you think credit unions are safer than traditional banks?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Is a Master’s Degree in Education Worth It? 7 Key Questions to Ask
  • Comparing the Flat Tax, Fair Tax, and Progressive Tax Systems
  • Are Energy Efficient CFL Bulbs Worth Paying More For?
  • Black Coffee: Pushing the Panic Button
  • The Continuing Chronicles of Elaine, Part 10
  • 3 Ways That Make Credit Cards Vulnerable to Fraud
  • Common Financial Mistakes in Manufacturing (and How to Avoid Them)
  • Blind Taste Test: Does Bottled Water Really Taste Better Than Filtered Tap?
  • Black Coffee: Banking on the Future
  • Behind the Science of Defining What’s Truly Priceless

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. 18 Personal Finance Facts About US Presidents
  2. 2. Credit or Debit: Which One Is Actually Better?
  3. 3. Why Buying Gasoline in the Morning Can Save You Money
  4. 4. Why Paying Off the Mortgage Early May Be a Big Mistake
  5. 5. What Defines True Financial Success?
  6. 6. A Georgia Teacher Shows Why It Always Pays to Read the Fine Print
  7. 7. Debt Elimination: The Pros and Cons of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps
  8. 8. Home Repair Scams: Here Are the 9 Biggest
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodities
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2023 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2023