By Lisa Scottoline
I was in New York and something great happened!
Let me explain.
I was there last weekend visiting Daughter Francesca, and we did a million things, including go to the Javitz Center to Meet the Breeds, a dog show where you can see dogs of all varieties, and pet them and kiss them.
Of course, we have dogs at home that we can pet and kiss.
So God knows why we paid thirty bucks to pet and kiss other peoples’ dogs, but there you have it.
We love dogs.
It was a great time, then afterwards Francesca had somewhere else to go and I went back to the apartment to watch the Eagles in the NFC playoffs, which I did with Flat Bradley, a cardboard cutout of Bradley Cooper.
It’s way more fun than it sounds.
And we won!
I mean the Eagles.
I also won, because Flat Bradley is the perfect man for me.
He doesn’t expect dinner and he doesn’t want my money.
And the sex is great.
You can follow along on my social media, where I post all the pix.
Except for the ones that are NSFW.
Back to the story.
The whole weekend, I was taking cabs and whipping out my credit card left and right. The day I packed to leave, I was missing my American Express card.
I had no idea where I lost it.
Before I go further, let me tell you that the last time I lost a credit card, I was also visiting Francesca in New York City. It was my Visa card and it dropped out of my pocket as I walked along the Hudson River. I cancelled the card, but later that day, a woman emailed me through my website to say she’d found it!
I love New York!
After that I vowed to never carry a credit card in my pocket.
Now I carry my credit card in my wallet.
But I manage to lose it anyway.
I know.
I’m amazing, right?
I’m Queen of Unforced Errors.
The proof is that I got married a second time.
Anyway to return to the story, I was walking to get a coffee before I called the credit card company, and I walked in the door of the coffee shop, it struck me that I had been here two days ago.
So I took a chance and asked the barista, “By any chance, did I leave an American Express card here?”
And the barista asked, “What’s your name?”
I did not answer Mrs. Bradley Cooper, even though I have the mug that says so.
I answered, and he said, “Yes, you left your card!”
And he handed it to me!
What?
Amazingly, I’ve lost a credit card in New York on two occasions and both times, New York gave me the card back!
What a city!
And that morning I walked to the car, carrying my coffee and Flat Bradley.
You think New York has seen everything?
It’s hasn’t.
On the sidewalk, every head turned.
Drivers in cars pointed and laughed.
Yes, I had a walk of shame with a cardboard celebrity.
And we’ll be watching the Super Bowl together, me and my corrugated man.
Go Birds!
Copyright © Lisa Scottoline 2025