We go shopping together all the time, but we never seem to spend any real time together.  It’s just swipe, swipe, swipe then back into the leather wallet, I go. 

Don’t you want a nice hot cup of coffee; I will even buy it for you!

I emerged from a great substance, a PVC substrate.  I even come with a steady job provided by the nifty little magnetic strip. As for a little bling bling, I have my little holographic patch that gives me authenticity. 

I had always wondered about my mag strip then you showed up.  I can still recall the day I was chosen to be your very own personal card, your personal information was then encoded electronically.  I was finally going to be someone!

Because you know how those ATM machines love to us credit cards when we are out of date.  Please try not to let that by my fate!

I can still see the day we came together. I was just one of the millions of cards issued across the world.  You were so ecstatic to have me, at least back then you where.

We where bonded together the instant you placed your signature on me.  My special signature strip reads void, or disappears if someone tries to alter or erase your signature from me.  My mag strip has a security strip on it keeping me from being accidentally erased when you place me on a magnetic field like a deactivator at a store, or place me close to your magnetized money clip. 

Do you remember the fun we had in Paris when I was a zero percenter! In that little café with that waiter, I believe his name was Jean-Luc.  Oh, my I can clearly recall the surprised look printed across your face the day you  got my first statement.  Who could have guessed that the Euro would out do our good ole American Dollar? 

From affection to cold shoulder

First, you began to carry a substantial balance on me.  Then you started to pay only the minimum payments, then late fees, and then of all things you began using other payment methods.

Occasionally you would pull me out from your leather wallet, but it wasn’t to swipe us.  How do you think it made me feel to be threatened by scissors?  On the other hand, I remember the time you put me on “ice”, thank the heavens for hair dryers. 

Together as we should be, we managed to live when my seductive rate turned into 13.46 % a long time of saving on your part- and no spending on mine.  If pressure creates diamonds it also makes credit cards.  Now that I think about it the two of us breathe a little bit easier when my balance returned to zero.  It then became possible for me to rejoin the world and have a life again. 

Now you and I know that I only have certain lifespan. In fact the people who issue the cards give me a life expectancy of about three years.  After that, my mag strip degausses or my lament starts to peel and a replacement card is sent to you. 

My replacement is likely be something out of a space movie with all sorts of feature that are all high tech such as a smart chip.

Heed my warning do not let all that high tech stuff convince you into spending more than you should.