Chill Out: A Lesson, For Me

I like to be quick and efficient when I do things, particularly when I know that there are people waiting in line behind me. 

This is because not only is it courteous, it also recognizes that they are busy and have things to do. 

It doesn’t matter where I am: the bank, the grocery store, and yes the gas station. 

Yesterday was payday, so part of my running around is to buy fuel. The place that I buy fuel from is always the cheapest place in town and so it has a line-up for every pump.

I have a system down where I can fuel up fairly quickly, and let’s face it I’m not buying much fuel, perhaps $30 - $50 worth.

Yesterday, one of the gas attendants who patrol back and forth amongst the pumps told me to not pull up to the front pump next time, but instead just the back one. 

Why? Well because I have Wanda on behind me, so if I pull up to the front pump I am blocking the back pump. 

If I do this then someone from behind me can drive around me and use the front pump. 

So, on one hand, on the surface, I see his logic. This sounds reasonable, right? Sure, except for one thing.

I have done this before and by the time the person has: 

• Driven around me

• Parked

• Gotten out

• Preauthorized his credit card (Pre-Pay Pump)

• Started fuelling

I am already finished!

Then I have to wait, and blocking the back pump, while this person finishes fuelling up and leaves. Why?

If I was just in my truck or in a small car, I could drive around this person in the space between the cars at the rows of pumps.

With Wanda, however, I am way too wide to do this, so I have to wait. 

I tried only twice (and quickly) to nicely convince this gas attendant that my method was best and theirs was clearly wrong.

I am not an arrogant person, or always assume that I do the right thing (I have made some doozies) but in this instance, I know that I am clearly right.

As you can imagine, on the drive away from the gas station, and in the privacy of my truck, and then trailer after parking and setting up, I cursed up a storm.

Thankfully I was only shouting to myself and not to said individual, or this could have been a veeeeery different blog entry, made from a veeeeery bad place.

Yet, let’s review this situation shall we? We are talking about me wasting a few minutes of my time (and that of the people behind me) . . . that’s it. 

Sure, I am right, and I could pull said individual aside and prove it to them, yet I know the type.

They will never admit that they are wrong. They will instead just keep quoting the procedure and insist that I follow it or make up reasons why they are right.

This is one of those cases where it is just better to suck it up, follow the rules, not stress about it and move on with your life. 

We all have moments like this, we all face these situations, so it is best to remember the larger picture and pick your battles. This is not a hill worth dying on.

As always: Keep your head up, your attitude positive, and keep moving forward!