Spoiled

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I stopped for breakfast in Susanville, CA yesterday, after a two hour drive from Reno, and had a sufficient bowl of oatmeal and strawberries in a small hotel restaurant where we once saw Diane Lane and Josh Brolin. (Diane ordered oatmeal that day, as I recall.) I was disappointed to sit all alone in the over-cooled corner with my tea and porridge, no celebrities in sight. I had been all set for a lively chat with Diane and Josh, but I guess that was kind of a long shot, now that I think about it.

After fueling myself, I pulled my Kia rental car into the Chevron station at the north end of town, and whipped out my credit card. The card worked, but the pump didn't, so I tried again, and then went inside for assistance. I tried paying outside, paying inside, pulling around to a different pump, and running back and forth to the consult with the Gas Guy at the register at least 7 times. Nothing worked. I was standing there with my hand on my hip and my face in a bunch, ready to give up and try another station, when Gas Guy came out through the grimy glass door, and in a moment very much like the one in "Nation Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", where Ellen finally figures out that the secret to getting a gazillion tiny Italian twinkle lights to work is to simply flip the light switch, he flipped up the handle on the pump...

Angels sang, gas flowed, and all I could say was oh-for-gawdsakes, in exactly the same tone my Granny used to use when something just floored her. To Gas Guy's credit, he was a total gentleman, and did not laugh at me or try to make me feel any more stupid than I already felt. I assured him that I had indeed pumped my own gas on many occasions, but that living in Oregon, where it's illegal, mind you, to pump your own gas, had maybe spoiled me just a little bit.

Back in the Kia, I headed for Oregon as fast as I could. Back to where I can let the nice Gas Guys pump the gas for me, so I can concern myself with more important things. I don't know what those things are really, but it's nice to free up some time and brain power in case I should come up with something.

Comments

  1. Texan Zombie GoddessJuly 26, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    Illegal to pump your own gas...never heard that one before lol.

    Just an FYI...I have a little award for you on my blog if you would like it and don't think it's too hokie :).

    Safe travels!

    \IiiI

    ReplyDelete
  2. RuthJuly 26, 2010 at 1:37 PM

    I was chastized quite severely the first time I tried to "self-serve" in Oregon. But discovered I quite like the service!

    Ruth

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kim MilesJuly 26, 2010 at 2:40 PM

    Penny - i have to confess to not really understanding blog awards...... dumb me! Point me to it! I'm honored!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJuly 26, 2010 at 4:43 PM

    Strange that Oregon would still be service oriented. Can you drive for more than just passing in the left lane on a 4 lane highway???? t always seems like the simple things that can slow us down. I wonder what the message was? Perhaps it was expectation. Preparing you to accept what is in the moment and not searching for anything more!!!!!!

    Have a great visit. Entahs, Illaya

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJuly 26, 2010 at 7:18 PM

    Been there, done that, can relate! LOL

    ReplyDelete

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