I was heading to my friend Bonnie's today. I had several stops to make before I got to her house and I was going over in my mind the route I would be taking that would make my trip the shortest---how to hit all of the locations I needed to, in the shortest way possible in order to save fuel.
As I was stopped at a stop light, I looked over at one of our local gas stations to check on the price per gallon today and my eyes nearly popped out of my head!
Not so long ago, we would have croaked to be paying that amount of money per gallon, but this is now----months after our gas prices started to soar and hang out near the $4.00 per gallon mark in our part of the country. It has been months since we have seen numbers under $3.00 per gallon.
I'm not smart enough to clearly understand the "whys" of the inflated gas prices---I have a few ideas. I do know there is no ONE clear answer to it. I also know we have been on a "joy ride" for years and years in our country. Most of us going about our daily lives without regard to the fact that we are an energy greedy country---our economy is driven by energy---but we don't actually produce much of the energy we consume. And the main source of energy we are gobbling up, at an amazing pace, is a limited resource.
This price, while shocking to us a couple of years ago, looks like a bargain today. One positive that has come out of the past few months of shelling out larger sums of money at the tanks is that it is making us a bit more aware of how really serious we have to become in conserving energy and creating alternative energy sources SOON!
Like I said, it's a complicated issue, but there is one thing I knew when I snapped that photo (even while the guy behind me was laying on his horn---he evidently didn't care to capture that momentous price like I did!)--I'll take the breaks when they come and enjoy them. Heck, who knows what tomorrow will bring---I'll rejoice in the low price for a bit.
* * * * * * * * * * *
I continued my stops--one of which was to pick up a delicious lunch to take to Bonnie's. I chose the cuisine offered at our local Mr. Goodsents! We've ordered that so often over the years that we know what each other wants without having to check with the other person anymore.
Bonnie is recouping from surgery (she's doing great!) and I wanted to take her a little "Way to go on your Surgery Gift", besides just spending some time with her over a scrumptious Mr. Goodsents lunch!
She opened my little gifts, then proceeded to give me my Halloween present.
Bonnie and I are big gift givers---to each other! While the value of our gifts are not big financially, they are usually something fun---something that if WE like it, the other person probably will as well. Since we both love Halloween decorations, that's a gift theme we always enjoy!
Just LOOK at the sweet items she picked out---even with surgery looming and feeling cruddy following the surgery--my pal Bonnie thought about getting me some Halloween Goodies!!!
Here's a darling "sparkly witch"---with a crystal ball. I think she is asking the crystal ball if we should put some solar panels on our roof!
And here is thePurrrrfect Hand towel (Bonnie has a slinky black kitty, too. Mine is named Frankie and hers is named BOO!!!! Can you believe it! Yes, it's true, the cat is named Boo!!!) and a terrific EEK pin! I can wear that pin when gas prices start hitting the $4.00 level again. It'll make me feel like I am protesting, even if it's through a sparkly "EEK" as I'm watching the price numbers whirl madly around on the pump!
Next, she selected this cute little pumpkin stack filled with hand soap. She found this at Bath and Body Works----it just puts a big old smile on my face every time I wash my hands!
Finally, she gave me this sweet little black Halloween Tree! That dear friend was thinking about ME, even after she had endured a near 5 hour post-op stint at her doctor's office. She saw this in the hospital gift shop and grabbed it up for ME!!!!! I will be eternally grateful, BK!
Of course, THE STONE RABBIT loves the sweet little tree, too. He thought he was SO clever hiding behind it! Bonnie, he said to tell you he felt like he was outside---watching the world from his little secluded spot!
Thank you, Bonnie, for the terrific gifts.
Thank you, Oil Companies, for the momentary cost break in filling up my vehicle.
Thank you, Lord, for letting me live here---in the USA---a place where I am free to gripe, and complain, and love, and appreciate. I am danged lucky. THE STONE RABBIT says "Ditto".
DANA
