Yesterday, I spent an endless amount of time trying to log into my online banking. The computer kept telling me that my password was incorrect. I persisted, but no luck. I eventually had to call the “Help” line and get assistance. My frustration level was over the top because I needed to transfer funds immediately, and it was of course past regular banking hours. It started me thinking about all the places where we need passwords today.

Growing up, the only password I ever needed was the three number combination for my high school locker. I would use the same three numbers all year, but by the end of summer vacation, I would have forgotten at least one of them necessitating the purchase of a new lock for my locker. After the second year of forgetting, my mother insisted I write it down. I guess she envisioned a draw full of unusable combination locks by the time my brother and I finished school.

The world today is controlled by passwords. For me, I think the first actual password or pin that I had to remember was connected to my first bank card. Everyone seemed so nervous of a card that was attached to all your bank funds and seemed protected by only a secret pin number. Today the world revolves around passwords.

I grew quite comfortable using my card, and took my banks advice and changed the pin number from time to time. One day while paying for groceries, I confidently slipped my card in the machine, and my mind went completely blank. I tried every pin number that I had ever had, I think. No luck! The line behind me grew longer. Others offered suggestions… your birth year, your kid’s birthday, your anniversary. Nothing worked. I was panicked and embarrassed. I had no other money  in my purse, and was not carrying my credit card. Just as I was about to give up, I took a final stab at the buttons. Eureka!

When I got home, I decided to take my mother’s advice and I wrote the pin down on a piece of paper which I slipped into the back of my wallet. I now have a small book with all the passwords that I use. Please do not let me ever lose it!

As an aging woman with questionable memory retention, passwords are most definitely a stumbling block. Think of all the things that require passwords: bank cards, credit cards, house alarms, garage openers, car door openers,  computers, online shopping sites, cell phones, internet connections, PayPal, cable companies, and many more. I just love when you are signing up for yet another service requiring a password and the instructions say ” a minimum of 8 characters, must include 1 upper case, 1 lower case, a number, and a symbol”. What the hell!!!! My mind is already on overload.

The idea of being fitted with a chip under your skin to replace all those passwords seemed absurd to me at one time, but about now, it is looking like a great alternative to taxing my memory space.

  I wonder if she needs a password?

Thanks for reading,

Penny xo ♥