Good morning. 🏖️🩴🌊8 September 2025Checks and BalancesHave you noticed that writing checks isn’t as popular as it once was? It’s very much a 20th-century thing. I still keep a checkbook and write the occasional check—usually to pay a bill that can’t be handled online, or for a larger purchase that my credit card might not accommodate. The checkbook isn’t forgotten; I still keep the ledger up to date.I use a debit card now and then, though I prefer a credit card. The thing is, nowadays many small businesses charge extra when you use a credit card. Some even tack on fees for any card, which misses the point entirely—they’re not charged extra for processing a debit card. That’s yet another reason I might reach for a check.Back in the 20th century—especially in the ’70s and ’80s—writing checks was common practice. People carried their checkbooks everywhere and used them for everything. Need gas? Write a check. Groceries? Write a check. Just want a cold soda? Write a check.I still remember opening my first checking account and thinking, I have arrived. It took a lesson or two to learn about balancing the checkbook, and the statement you received in the mail didn’t always reflect your actual balance. Live and learn.Nowadays, if I’m waiting in line at a store and the person ahead of me waits until all her items are scanned before digging through her purse—only to retrieve a checkbook—I might let out a silent sigh. I’d be careful not to show any emotion, not even impatience. Even if she waits until asked for ID to start rummaging again, my outward demeanor would remain impassive.For I remember when.“Any general statement is like a check drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.” — Ezra Pound“The good old days weren’t always good, and tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.” — Billy Joel#morning #beach #birds #photo #checks #nostalgia #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature