Looking back, if she had to make a list of the things she didn’t miss about him while on her trip–and after so many years together there was a list–his habit of waiting until the last minute to refill the car with gas had to be at the top, right up there with his selective hearing and the bizarre way he stores papers he doesn’t want to lose on top of the china cabinet in plain view, as if they were a display of ironstone or silk flower arrangement.
But as she refilled her tank on that stretch of desert highway (only half empty, naturally) she admitted that if it wasn’t for all those empty tanks, there would be no reason for him to look at her and smile when she noted, for the fifth time in as many minutes, that there wasn’t enough gas to make it to the gas station.� There would be no hand squeezing her neck affectionately as the wind ripped through her hair (“We’re good!� Just turn off the air and roll down the windows.”) or flat out laughing every time she fell for his gas pedal foot tapping (“Maybe you’re right.� Maybe we won’t make it.� WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?!”)
Were it not for his habit of waiting until the last minute to refill the car with gas, she would miss all the rest by consequence.� That’s when she knew.� It’s the way he stores papers he doesn’t want to lose on top of the china cabinet that she missed the least.
Jules-I love the new ways you have been framing your stories lately. Inspiring.
Reading your writing is fun!
I LOVELOVELOVE taking a photo and then writing a story, like the girls at The T-ruffles blog. Creative writing + photography is such a fun combo.
I’m curious about whether this photo was inspired by the story, or visa versa. In any case, keep writing! :)
Emily–glad you like it! It’s something I’ve been playing around with and I am happy to know it isn’t coming off cold or snooty. (At least not to us. Hah!)
Leslie–I’ve never been to the T-Ruffles blog. I will have to check it out! It was the event–being nowhere near a gas station (again) with the computer saying ZERO (again) that inspired the post. My husband took a picture of the gas register to email to my dad and similarly insane friends. It’s a point of male pride to take it as low as you can go, apparently. sigh. I asked him later for the picture. :)
This is such a fun story :) I had a boyfriend in college that I met when he ran out of gas…turns out that much of our relationship would revolve around the “can you bring me some gas” phone calls…we sure had some fun adventures! He obviously was not as talented as your husband – as he often would not make it to the gas station.
Jules you are too funny. Im enjoying your blog a lot lately. Sorry I dont always post. Things are hectic around here. BUT Joey does the same thing…..and one time we did actually run out of gas with a one year old in the winter. So now even though he still teases me with that same gas pedal tapping I have a reason to yell at him :)
Oh, I hate the running on empty gas trick that Mr. Feterie also does! The tapping on the gas pedal drives me nuts and it’s not funny too. I guess you can say that my fear of nearing empty comes from my crazy college experience of running out of gas at the Taco Bell drive-thru window. I guess I didn’t know my car very well then. A homeless couple offered to push my car to the parking stalls if I let them live in my car for a few days. Being that I need the same car to go to my college classes daily, I gave them whatever money I had after I paid the Taco Bell gal in exchange for them pushing my car to the adjacent parking lot. So now, when I see 1/4 tank… I high-tail it to the nearest gas station and fill up!
That is hilarious. I love how lists change with your day….those little things that can drive you crazy one day and the other be totally fine.
And I, too, really enjoy this writing style! Very entertaining!
+175 points to Cathe. That has to be one of the funniest things I have heard in a long time.
I look forward to your post and love your blog ,even if I don’t comment always.
Much Love,
Lisa
I love this story, especially the third person point of view. And, I find this story extra-funny because I’m the one in my relationship who fills the tank when it’s below the E. Always makes for a little angst:-)!
Too funny. It must be a guy thing. When my now husband and I were dating we drove with my children to Disney World, he had the whole thing plotted out as to how long it would take to drive pretty much straight there with limited stopping and he even plotted out when we stop for gas. Obviously he never traveled with kids because he didn’t factor much in the lines of food, potty and rest breaks in general. We were running really low and I suggested we stop for gas when he explained that we were on an incline therefore the sensors were not really picking up all the gas in the tank, or something to that effect and we were fine. And then a few minutes later we ran out of gas on the highway. We coasted to the side. He then had to walk to the nearest gas station to get gas while the kids and I waited in the car. For a really long time it seemed. So much for his precise schedule. Now he is much better at filling up the tank before it’s low.
Jules, your writing is so creative and diverse! such an inspiration. I look forward to every post…
Did you finish The Help? If so, did you like it? Maybe I missed a post?
Yeah, I’m a bit all over the place. Bad blogger! That’s actually something “they” say you should never do, you know. Good bloggers–according to “they” and “the books”–say you should stick to one tone and writing style. Keep it consistent, in other words. Oh well. :)
I haven’t read The Help, yet! It’s on the list of books to read.
I personally run out of gas all the time. By all the time, I mean at least 2 times a year (that’s a lot right)? It really hasn’t hindered us too much at this point. I usually run out across the street from the station, or within a mile or two. I have 2 of those red plastic gas tank things from recent running on empty experiences. Silly, I know. bad mother, I know. I just really hate getting gas. Really, really hate it. I’ve even made my poor husband run out of gas in his car. At this point though the whole thing is actually quite laughable and makes for good story telling.
Eek! Just thinking of that little scenario makes me sweat. Seriously. I don’t do running out of gas well. The last time it happened I was at Bible college in Dallas, Texas … with some friends; we noted the gas light and got off the freeway. Only there was nary a gas station in sight … nor could we figure out where to get back ON the freeway. Me and one friend were totally panicked. My other friend told us not to freak out… “Don’t freak out? DON’T FREAK OUT?!!! We’re running out of gas … BY THE LIZARD LOUNGE.” Yeah…good times…
I enjoy your posts so very much!
I am often giggling to myself thinking “that’s so me”.
Thank you so much for your honest and heartfelt blog! I love it!!
I have always loved your blog, but it seems to be evolving into a whole new animal and let me just say whatever this animal is I love it more and more everyday! (Hello run on sentence!) I really feel like each new post is a little treat that I want to gobble right up. I loved this story!
I like that you are trying something new, what do ‘they’ know? You are a writer so you have license to be creative, this is your forum, so there! BTW, I am with you, who knew Cathe was so hilarious? That’s a really funny story:)
My husband puts stuff on top of the cabinets, too! Drives me nuts, especially since he is so clean and organized with everything else.
Erika! My husband is neat as a pin, too! That’s why his fixation with the top of cabinets is so mind boggling.
Hilarious! What is it with the gas and our guys. My mister is the worst offender of this.
BTW… you just need to go write a book. Period. The End.
i love this! and i TOTALLY agree with patricia lol
Are your husband and my boyfriend the same person? The red fuel light still gives me a minor panic attack every time I see it, even though it’s been going off regularly for the past 3 years.
Aaron also likes to leave papers, social security cards, stray dollar bills, gum wrappers, news clippings, receipts, and any other Aaron-important items spread out across tables and desks. His reasoning is that if he can see where everything is, he can’t lose it.
In turn, he puts up with my fanatical fears of malfunctioning smoke alarms (I make him check ours on a regular basis, usually right before bed), dust bunnies and hotel bed bugs.
All in all, not a bad trade.
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