We go to fill up the car at the Arco station on El Cajon Blvd. It's in a bit of a run down ghetto neighborhood but it's the cheapest place around. Today it was $4.52 a gallon. It's gone up about $2 in a year. The Shell station nearby has peaked at $4.99. It wants to go over five but for the time being it dare not. It might cause a riot. They might have lost the big numbers for the sign.
Still, nothing on the UK price eh.
Bush is supposed to be giving everyone $600 as part of his economic stimulus plan. I've not gotten mine yet. Although I did get a letter saying it should be hitting my bank account any day now. That was a month ago. Perhaps he's figured out I'm not an American even though I'm a legal resident who pays taxes and social security. It would be a very Bush thing to do. It would play well in Texas. Ah Texas, where McCain's war record is an actual handicap on top of his handicap, 'you're not supposed to get captured John...' I actually heard someone say this.
Maybe they have a point. I don't think I'd vote for Terry Waite per se. But then again, maybe singing hymns in a dark room while chained to a radiator for five years is the perfect preparation for a political career?
Anyway. The oil crisis (is it a crisis yet or am I jumping the gun? maybe it feels more like a malaise...) has some good outcomes. There's a lot fewer hummers on the road for a start. A lot less SUVs generally. And there's a lot more weird prototype space cars popping up in traffic. Passed one the other day, kind of like a sled covered in a collapsed shed of solar panels. Moved very slowly. Slower than a bath. Slower than a bath in Bath on a particularly slow Sunday afternoon. 'The Solar Snail'. They've obviously got a few kinks to work out.
Still, the gas station forecourt is the place to be. Dented fenders. Sleek paint jobs. Cars matching their owners. Bumper stickers. 'McCaine for President' inches away from 'Impeach Bush'. The lazy pay by card at the pump. The thrifty go inside with cash to avoid the 25 cent credit card levy.
I am thrifty. And that's how I found Jesus.
They have a startling turn over in staff at the Arco. It makes me think the place is constantly being held up. But I could be wrong.
Today I was served by a fat Mexican I'd never seen before. His name badge said he was called 'Jesus'.
'Forty on three,' I said handing him a couple of Jackson's. Jackson is the most coiffed of all the ex-presidents. I don't know what he did, but what a majestic head of hair!
Jesus took the money and entered it into the till and the till using the magic telepathy of electricity told the pump to let me have $40 of gas. It would be waiting for me in the nozzle. A wonder, I say... maybe even a miracle.
I couldn't help myself. I thanked him by name.
'Thank you, Jesus,' I said. It was an odd moment.
I walked outside trying to think of a witty play upon words about a gas station attendant called Jesus but I couldn't do it.
