Buying gasoline was a social event in 1935
when my daddy cranked up the car
backed it out of the too small garage
and stopped at the front walkway
to wait for Momma and the other kids
I always shared that short ride with Daddy
My family never went shopping
The six of us rode in the car to town to buy things
After he backed the car out into our street
we head to the stores
shifting gears and chugging along
waving to everyone outside on Corbett Street
our excitement high in a family adventure
We stopped first at the Pep Service Station
purveyor of oil gasoline and groceries
Daddy pulled up to the tank
right on the button he said
where the hose nozzle would reach the hole
after he unscrewed the car's gas cap
Securing the nozzle safely inside the hole
his work had only begun
taking off his coat and rolling up sleeves
he got hold of the long red handle
attached to the ten feet tall pump
pushing it back and forth
pumping gas from an underground tank
into the big glass bowl
sitting on top of a green giant creation
Daddy had to pump hard to bring the gas up
filling that glass cylinder bowl
with a lot of orange colored gas
watched by inquisitive young eyes
past marks to measure each 17-cent gallon
Gravity was at work emptying fuel into our car
It was always more fun when we bought gas
and wondered what Daddy would do if it spilled
Not only is this piece a fond remembrance for you but it is a bit of history for those of us who have never experienced this...I could just imagine the faces of children as Daddy pumped that gas.... well done, my dear..)) M
Makes me think Tom Sawyer scenery somehow, Bill...but then, I AM very iggorant; I get very confused with time and place. All I know is that this is SUCH a delightful and cinematic picture and it is fascinating how much our young minds can absorb from one seemingly (to us adults!) day-to-day event. Your memory is acute, your pen sharp and your narrative compelling. Reminds me of Alice Munro... LOVE that woman. You share her eye for detail. TY Kate xx
This was before my time, but I do remember well how in years past when my mom pulled into a station to get gas, there was a young man ready to fill the tank, clean the window, and gage the tires...he usually had a friendly smile and when my mom paid for gas, she smiled to...for she always drove a large car, or did it seem large because I was small...nah! It was BIG...but the money she paid for the gas was nothing like that of today...
Great wriet here my friend, you've penned a write that takes the reader to a simple time, when life was at a slower pace, when people appreciated what they had because it was harder to come by than today...as I said this was before my time as I am forty three, but there are times that I feel I was born in the wrong era of time...I loved the simple times of my youth...as you've noticed many of my postings are of events in my youth, but I know that I would have enjoyed living even earlier...I know that times were hard...but at least people had values and morals...not much of that around today!
Great write, this one is a keeper for me...
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling...
Bless your heart. Your poem made me remember being a young girl helping my dad fill up the tank for the first time. I let go of the nozzle and the gas went everywhere. But he just smiled, shut off the valve and encouraged me to try again. Your poem evokes such memories!
You are delightfully "retro" in this write, and I love it. Never rest your special quill poet! Your parchments are wise and precious and allow us to savor memory lane.
Family adventures such as these will forever be alive with your pen!
I still pack the kids in the car for adventures into the farmlands around our remote area...just to gaze upon a farmer, or a little herd of sheep or cattle, a vegetable garden or a clothsline drying overalls in the wind...This too brings back my memories of such...Thank you for sharing~
Love and Peace~
Kimmy~
Oh Bill, you've brought up some wonderful memories for me with this poem! I remember back in high school, we'd all pile into someone's Dad's car and if we had fifty cents, we could almost fill up the gas tank, and cruise up and down Main Street for hours, then stop at the Tastee Freeze to meet up with other friends. Those were the days ... Thank you!
Love,
CJ
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
Share
Print
Save
Follow
Regis
peace and love, Carole
Great wriet here my friend, you've penned a write that takes the reader to a simple time, when life was at a slower pace, when people appreciated what they had because it was harder to come by than today...as I said this was before my time as I am forty three, but there are times that I feel I was born in the wrong era of time...I loved the simple times of my youth...as you've noticed many of my postings are of events in my youth, but I know that I would have enjoyed living even earlier...I know that times were hard...but at least people had values and morals...not much of that around today!
Great write, this one is a keeper for me...
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling...
Suasan
Thank you,
Sharon
You are delightfully "retro" in this write, and I love it. Never rest your special quill poet! Your parchments are wise and precious and allow us to savor memory lane.
Light and Wisdom ...
I still pack the kids in the car for adventures into the farmlands around our remote area...just to gaze upon a farmer, or a little herd of sheep or cattle, a vegetable garden or a clothsline drying overalls in the wind...This too brings back my memories of such...Thank you for sharing~
Love and Peace~
Kimmy~
Love,
CJ