Tuesday, January 23, 2007

self-serve

One of our friends owns a gas station in Rochester that is the only one of it's kind for miles around....it's a Full-Service Gas Station. It's usually a little more expensive, so for a long time I avoided getting gas there. However, recently we decided to try to patronize certain businesses regardless of the extra cost, and that's when I realized something about myself....

Having someone serve me makes me uncomfortable.....I don't know what to do with myself....

I pull up in my car and wait for the guy to come out....but really, I want to jump out and say "don't worry, I've got it"....but is that okay? While he's pumping my gas I'm thinking, " do I keep my window down so I can be friendly and social with this kid? It's cold!! Is there a way to run the heat without turning the car on and blowing up the whole block?" Then when it's time to pay, if I have to use my debit card, he's got to make another trip in and out of the station to run it through the machine and bring the card back to me. I feel like a lazy jerk. But on the other hand, I'm wondering, "If this is full-service, how come the kid doesn't check my oil or wash my windows?" I am a lazy jerk!

So that's why I don't like the full-service gas station.....but I like our friend....so we'll keep going....

4 comments:

Jonathan said...

Amanda has taken on a similar view - but since we don't really know anyone, it takes the form of trying to only buy fair trade coffee and tea. She can find coffee like that here but had to drive to Ten Thousand Villages in Champaign to get my tea.

Next thing you know, you'll start cooking lentils and tofu and using the More With Less Mennonite cookbook.

Janus Torrell said...

I used to work at a full service that my dad owned, though now with full service they don't really do anything anymore without being asked.

I used to ask, that surprised a lot of people, but I know people are very particular about the car.

If it is cold, just say Hello and tell the attendant what you would like, you don't have to keep the window down unless it is summer and you are hot. When you tell him what you want for gas if you would like him to get the windows or check the oil, this is when you tell him. Then leave the window up, keep it on heat with the battery for a few minutes while he fills up the car. When he is finished give him the cash or card, and wait until he about returns before lowering the window again, say thank you-have a great day, and off you go.

It's full service though, so stay warm, that's the point.

dlaz said...

Mark Walker could build you 5 cars, 3 houses and two jets during the time that one of his employees pumps your gas...



...this comment won't make much sense unless this station is indeed mark walkers. hopefully it is. i remember him talking about one...

Gretchen Magruder said...

Yes, it is in fact Mark's station...thankfully, he doesn't usually work there...it would be even WORSE sitting in my car while Mark Walker pumped my gas....

 This quote was part of my Lectio365 Sabbath devotion this morning, and as I considered what this day should look like, I began considering ...