Gas Stations
Me: “WordPress and I have continuing disagreements about
the sizes and positions of graphics.
I am comfortable with imperfection.”
Frozen Car Door Solution
January 2, 2024
I drove to the gas station this morning, but couldn’t get gas. I forgot that recent freezing rain meant my gas door would be iced closed. I’d forgotten to put a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol in my car for freezing rain days. I spray the alcohol into the cracks around the door and wait a few moments. A neighbor had suggested alcohol for a frozen car door lock, and it worked with frozen gas doors, too.
I went back for gas later this evening after warmer temperatures had thawed my gas door.
Me: “I was here this morning, but my gas door was frozen. I couldn’t get it open.”
Attendant: “I nearly pulled a door handle off my car after a freezing rain. I had to crawl through the passenger door until I could afford to fix the driver door handle.”
Me: “I’ve learned that spraying frozen car doors with rubbing alcohol unfreezes them in just a few minutes. I just forgot that my gas door was probably frozen this morning. I’ll get a small spray bottle to keep in my car for the rest of the winter.”
No more door handle replacements for Attendant.
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Cloud Or Flying Saucer?
May 11, 2024
While filling my car with gas, I saw a cloud that looked like a face showing surprise. I finished with the gas, stuck the nozzle in the pump, and walked around the pump to take a photograph. By then the clouds had shifted. Walking back to my car I saw a short old man with a long white beard,
Me: “The cloud had a face.”
Old White Beard: “I thought you might have seen a flying saucer!”
Me: “That would have been better!”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Friendliness
Humor
Influence
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Podcast Thoughts & Real Life
June 14, 2024
Driving to the gas station, I listened to an Art of Manliness Podcast about neighbors and community, #176. Guest Marc J. Dunkelman talked about the vanishing middle ring of social life.
A man got out of his car on the opposite side of my pump.
Man: “Good morning.”
I told him about the podcast.
Me: “The host was saying we’ve lost the art of talking to our neighbors and I get out of my car to you greeting me.”
Man: “That’s why we live in a small community.”
Me: “I make a point of getting to know my neighbors. When I had a recent water leak, 4 neighbors helped me with it.”
I said the name of my village.
Man: I live just up the road from you.
Me: “I thought you looked familiar.”
We exchanged names. I do know him, but I know his wife better.
Me: “Say hello to your wife.”
Neighbor Up The Road: “I will. Have a good day.”
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Outgoing
Starting a conversation
Influence
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Grandma Satisfaction
June 14, 2024
Going inside the gas station right after the conversation above, I started a conversation with the attendant I had known for years.
Me: “How often do you see your grandchildren?”
Attendant: “I’m picking them up this afternoon for a farm open house. They’re spending the night.”
Attendant had another job at a business where her boss purposefully treated me badly. I no longer speak to him, but I make a point of being friendly to her. We enjoy seeing each other.
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Something Instead of Nothing
July 3, 2024
I greeted the female attendant.
Me: “Do you have to work on July 4th?”
Attendant: “Only in the morning.”
Me: “Will you get holiday pay?”
Attendant: “I think they give gift cards.”
Me: “At least you get something.”
Attendant: “That’s what I thought.”
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Brain Overload
March 8, 2025
I worked on my taxes before running errands. After filling my car with gas, I took out cash to match the number of gallons, not the amount of the sale. Attendant asked me for the amount of the sale.
Me: “I was just working on my taxes.”
Attendant: “No problem. Your brain can take only so much before it gets overloaded.”
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Coins For Gas
March 18, 2025
Decades ago, I asked a gas station attendant what her smallest gas sale was.
Decades Ago Attendant: ‘32 cents. I don’t know haw far they thought they were going to get.”
I asked the gas station attendant today about her smallest sale. She had to think a moment.
Today’s Attendant: “$1 and it was all in coins. Some people have it hard.”
I told her about the 32 cents
Me: “I hope both people got where they needed to go.”
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Roles For Safety
April 8, 2025
I stopped at the gas station in a rural village after 8:00 at night. The female attendant was in her late 50s or early 60s. She had tightly permed curls on the right side of her head in psychedelic colors.
I asked female attendant if she ever gets afraid working at night.
Attendant: “No. I’ve always got back up. After 5:00 we always have 2 people working.”
Me: “I’m glad to hear that.”
Attendant: “One to run fast and one to scream loud.”
Me laughing: “That sounds good!”
Attendant: “I would be the screamer.”
More laughter.
DISC Behavior Style Clues
Attention getting hair
Humor
Influence
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Hallucination?
May 12, 2025
I drove up to the gas pump facing south. On the other side of the gas pump was a big pickup truck facing north. A young man was holding the gas nozzle into the truck while the truck was moving. I couldn’t see the cab of the truck. I stared at Young Man and the truck to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.
Me: “I’ve never seen a pickup truck moving while getting gas before. I had to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating!”
Young Man laughed.
I filled my tank, cleaned my front and back car windows, and went inside the gas station to pay my bill. I checked to see who was in the pickup driver’s seat. I saw an old man with a long white beard.
When I came out again Young Man was still holding the fuel nozzle to the truck.
Me: “How big is your tank?”
Young Man: “$145. It’s big. Have a good day.”
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Excellence In Action
September 6, 2025
I was listening to Art of Manliness Podcast #427 this morning, The Excellence Dividend. Guest Tom Peters explained what excellence was:
“…the next five minutes. That next act.”
“…lived one minute at a time.”
“…walk the talk.”
“…one small activity at a time.”
The gas station was busy. I went inside to find 2 men and 1 woman in front of me and another man to the side who had obviously gone in before me. After the 1st man left and the woman moved forward, the man to the side gestured for me to go ahead of him and winked.
I told him about the podcast and said excellence was what he had just done for me, and congratulated him on creating excellence. He smiled. As I was leaving, he wished me a good day.
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© Paula M. Kramer, 2025
All rights reserved.
Updated October 13, 2025.