What would you do if you lost your wallet? How lost would you be? How helpless?

I had an audition for a new cartoon series yesterday. Jan was across town in a park on a see-saw with “the kids” (that’s still strange to say) and I was at home, quietly “working from home” and passing the morning. The time came for me to get my act together and head out to this audition so, before walking out the door, I performed the usual inventory check:

phone: check
keys: check
Palm Pilot: check
headphones: check
wallet: …

Uh oh. After a quick flashback in my mind to the day before when we had gone to Parc de la Ciutadella for a birthday party, I remembered that I had left my wallet in Jan’s handbag. You know, for safekeeping. A quick call to the Mrs. confirmed my fears.

The audition was in 25 minutes. I was at home with no money, no train ticket, no Bicing card, no credit card, no ATM card, and no ID. I had to get to Poble Nou (a 20 minute train ride, or a 45 minute walk). I rooted around the house to see if I could find a secret stash of cash anywhere. Nothing. Not even any change in the couch (Emily!!!). So that meant no metro, no bike, no cab, and no time to walk.

In a fit of desperation, I grabbed my passport and ran out the door with the intention of begging the teller at the bank to let me take out some money with a form of ID other than the one I used to open the account. As I flew out the front door of the building, Mario, our doorman, said, “See you later!”. I stopped in my tracks. Gears turned in my head. I turned on my heels. And I hit Mario up for a 20 euro loan, to be paid back with interest, I promised.

A cab brought me downtown to Poble Nou where I arrived just a couple of minutes after the scheduled audition time. The cartoon centered around some vegetables in a fridge. I did a hyper-nervous Piglet-like voice for an insecure radish and an over-the-top Mexican accent for a cocky chili pepper. The clients were in stitches, I thanked them for their time, and I was back out on the street just 30 minutes later.

I have since hidden emergency funds in an uber-secret location in case I ever find myself in a similar situation. Mario has been paid back (with a bottle of cava as interest) and I’m waiting to hear if the cartoon is picked up.