To Our Readers,
I’m a Jersey girl who can pump gas. Since New Jersey and Oregon are the only two states that don’t allow self -serve, you learn fast. Although I do have to admit to soaking my clothing with gasoline, not once, but twice. That was mortifying and quite the joke to all around me. Snickers could be heard about my license plates. I understand why the independent gas station owners want the newly introduced legislation to phase in self-serve over a three year period. It cuts their cost and the assertion is that the stations will pass that savings along to the customer. Perhaps that’s true. I know I avoid full-serve pumps in certain states because of the astronomical difference in price from self-serve pumps. I’m not sure if that’s for the convenience or if labor has that much impact on the price per gallon or a little of both. I’ll let the experts figure that out and I’ll draw an opinion after all the facts come out. I do know that the luxury of not having to get out of my car in the rain or freezing temperatures is absolutely something I adore. Sometimes the long lines are annoying, but it’s a price I’ll pay. I do miss the true full serve service and there are a few gas stations around that still provide it. One is in Holmdel and I’ll go out of my way to stop there, literally, out of my way. A nice gentleman fills the tank, checks the oil and the windshield washer fluid; he even washes the windshield. In the winter months he even gets the ice off those pesky spots we forget about when we’re rushing off to wherever. Now that’s service. It’s something we’ve seemed to have lost in a lot of areas. It doesn’t mean I couldn’t do all those things myself. But my life is hectic. I don’t stop and it’s almost comforting to go to that station and have the basics taken care of, and it brings peace of mind.
Of course, all of us look for the best deal per gallon if we can and there are marvelous apps to do your comparison shopping for you and I’ve been known to do that – a lot – as well.
But the civility of the old-fashioned full serve is something that makes living just a tad better. It’s something people are quite good at in this community but I do believe we should all strive to be a bit more attentive to one another, a bit more respectful, a bit more careful while riding a bike or driving, a bit more careful crossing a street. It’s the simple things really. The pleasant greeting, the opening of a door – something as easy as a smile. That’s what a community means. We certainly don’t have to agree about everything but we can respect differences and celebrate each others’ victories. So as the roads get congested with the summer traffic and the gas lines get longer and more people are frustrated, try to remember to take a step back and smile, whether you’re in line for a hot dog or on line in a gas station. Enjoy the summer and send us your thoughts about full serve vs. self-serve. We’re listening.
Let’s have coffee
Jody Calendar
Editor/Co-Publisher
editor@tworivertimes.com
