Wait a minute!
Okay—I know we’ve all complained about the rising cost of gas. . . but COME ON! This morning I could not believe my dependable, “cheap” gas station listed regular at $3.39! What!? Two days ago it was $3.27. 12 cents in two days? Incredible. I called my husband. “Go to the Citgo between Long John Silvers and Burger King! It’s still $3.27! Got it. I pulled a U-ee and slid into the Citgo. Okay. . . they didn’t take credit cards at the pump, but no matter. I felt like I had found the Holy Grail. I prepared the “thank you” I was going to give the cashier, applauding them on their wherewithal and courage to stand up against the evil OPEC. In my head I was composing the e-mail I would forward to my friends; GO TO CITGO ON ROUTE 11 BY THE BURGER KING! Oh wait till I tell the owner how I will express my gratitude via the power of word of mouth! I’ll be a valued customer!
I entered the store, passing the Skoal display (it was on sale too). I handed over my credit card and began my speech. “Thank you so much for daring to keep your prices down. I so appreciate—”
“You’re lucky. We’re right in the middle of raising them.”
“But. . . . ” Any normal person would have just stopped. But no… For some reason, I thought that I would make a difference by lauding their efforts with three syllable words and yes, I did mention that e-mail.
They could have cared less.
Heartbroken, I had yet another revelation.
I spoke with a friend of mine who lives in Tidewater. Price of regular there today? $3.11. WHAT!? Our gas is more expensive!? Now what kind of sense does that make? Okay, everything else is cheaper here. And I guess in the end it is all relative. I was doing a cost of living comparison with Boston and nearly everything was doubled in price there except beer and pizza. Beer and pizza are cheaper in Boston than in Southwest Virginia. And there you have it: three of life’s necessities: gas, beer, pizza.
-Lucinda McDermott Piro