used to roll my eyes at the old guys memorizing tables too, figured it was just stubbornness. then one shift my phone died mid job and I had to do a decompression stop off memory, and let me tell you, that panic taught me fast why the basics matter. it's not about the computer failing, it's about what happens to your brain when it does.

The pause before the actual sorry gets me every time. There's always that big sigh and the long stare at the floor like they're searching for the words, then it's just a two second sorry followed by ten minutes of excuses. I watched one last year where the guy choked up right on cue but his eyes stayed completely dry the whole time, and once you notice it you really can't stop.

My buddy Dave keeps every receipt in a ziplock taped inside his pantry door.