Sometimes I forget how much things have changed.

I made some interesting plans yesterday after work.

My friend wanted to get together at 4:00 which is an unusual time for me. I tend to get off work in the mid afternoon, grab lunch, take a shower, and then go on with the rest of my day. I'm usually not ready until about 6:00. 4:00 is really cutting things close.

Source: Pixabay.com

However, I came up with a scheme that would enable me to be ready and able to meet him on time.

Before I went to bed I thought to myself that I would simply grab a small burger and fries from the local fast food joint, spending a couple of bucks in change that I had by the bedside table.

I grabbed $2 in quarters and a couple of dimes and nickels. "It won't be a big lunch but it'll be enough to tide me over until I get together with my friend" I thought.

Given how busy our restaurant was this Father's Day weekend, I knew that I would have some extra leeway if I wanted to leave a little bit early today.

The fact that we were completely dead only helped my cause.

I left work with my $2 and change in my pocket and headed over to Wendy's to grab a junior bacon cheeseburger and small fries. I remembered that they are both on the value menu and they both cost $1. I should have enough.

Unfortunately, there is no value menu at Wendy's anymore. Or maybe I should say there is no dollar menu.

The cost for the small fries and junior bacon cheeseburger was $2.90. Plus tax it was something like $3.40.

Ouch.

I had to pull out my credit card.

My phone was dead but I knew that I needed to quickly call my friend. There's a payphone by the convenience store near the pizza shop.

At least there was a payphone there. It's there in my memory, but it isn't actually there in reality. Driving around I could not find a single pay phone anywhere.

Does everyone have a cell phone these days? Personally I don't really care for cell phones because every other call is from some fake asshole abusing my number, or just some business trying to get me to buy something.

I guess the cellphone has killed the payphone. That seems really strange. What happens if your cell phone is dead and you need to use a payphone?

I figured at the very least I would run in and grab a candy bar so that I could have something to give my friend since I knew I was going to be a few minutes late. I figured I could use the remaining change in my pocket to buy one for about $0.50.

Nope.

One small candy bar is $1.25 at the local supermarket.

Weren't they just $0.35 yesterday?

I guess part of getting older means getting in line with the times. Things change and prices are certainly no exception.

However, I feel like almost everything has changed for the worst.

Granted there are some good things like the ability to access whatever you want on the internet. Also our communication skills have generally increased as a society. However, everything is much more difficult nowadays especially when it comes to money.

I'm definitely making the same amount if not less than I did 10 years ago at my restaurant job yet inflation has gone up significantly. It definitely is not working in my favor.

People often say change is a good thing.

I know that it can be.... but I'm not a huge fan lately.

Sometimes I forget how much things have changed.