Ever experience that moment of your car running out of gas? Well, it's not just the act itself that brings out the absolute worst in you, it's also how you react and try to figure out how to solve the problem. Out of the many loud verbal "discussions" I've had with my Father, a few in particular stick out the most prominently in my mind. One being, "always save your money" but that can be a topic for another day. The piece of insight provided was, "whatever happens, the last thing you want to do is panic" and I must say, I couldn't agree more.
Being in a state of panic will make the most sane person react irrationally and potentially cause the situation to become much more worse than it started. So, when I saw my 'you need gas in this vehicle now' light glow, I immediately created a plan in my head. I had just enough gas to make it the hour and ten minute drive to work. I know there's a gas station on the corner before I'd leave to get onto the highway on my way home, naturally, I assumed I had everything under control.
As the day progressed, so did my work load. I had a few things to do here and then a couple things to do there along side a few client calls then before I knew it, my poor beautiful Mika (my car) and her thirst for some overly priced gas had completely checked out of my mind. Especially since I was lucky enough to be invited to a Devil's hockey game that same night.
Normally, my day consists of... wake up, drive the hour and ten minute drive to work, work, drive the hour and ten minute drive back home, gym (sometimes depending on how tired I am after my day), sleep, and repeat. When I was asked to accompany some of my colleagues to a NHL game, I couldn't say no. The game went on to about 10:30pm and the drive back to the office brings us to around 11:00pm.
I bid my stellar boss adieu and prepare to drive back home. As I ignite the ignition ( ;-) ) Mika promptly reminded me how thirsty she was for the luscious taste of government twisted and overly priced gas. My estimated miles before death to Mika came out at about 18 miles. No problem, I thought to myself since the gas station on the corner was a hop, skip and a jump away. Even though it's late, I was off on my adventure home.
As I pull around the corner, I come to find the road where the gas station usually lives is dark and appears desolate. Well, where I'm from even if it appears no one is working the station at least the pumps still work, so if I'm ever jone-zing for a candy bar I'd be out of luck but at least I'd have gas. Haa! How wrong was I?....so wrong even 3 lefts wouldn't make it right. Not even the pump light was on. Here we can safely say my panic mode began to sink in. The closest gas station (that I knew of) from this point was off the highway (still on my way home) but tucked snugly at the bottom of an immensely steep hill. To say the very least, I took my chances with this one.
I kept a steady pace of 60 mph, which on normal occasions would be a highway travelers nightmare, but let's not forget by this point it's 11:30pm...and not too many driver passer-byers graced me with their presence. So far so good, I'm coasting along and on every hill I see I popped Mika in neutral and cruised down until I dropped down around 55 mph.
As a tip for all of my fellow fans who ever find themselves in this situation, coasting down hills in neutral saves your gas tank IMMENSELY in circumstances like this.
As I'm cruising along, I make it to my exit...yes, so far so good! But, this is where the ridiculously steep hill is and of course, it's a merging lane. My little Mika chugs along up this hill on full tank days so on a low tank day, I was gripping the wheel and holding my breath.
And release, made it. Throw it in neutral and cruise on down to the gas station was my new plan. But, as I'm making my way down the hill I notice it's oddly dark along these streets. And as I'm pulling into the gas station, it's even darker and colder. What? Why are all these lights off now? I think to myself. I notice the light on the gas pump and let out a sigh of relief. This is it, I can rest easy....Haa! Nope! This gas station is apparently closed too. Evidently, this town is even more inactive than I am during the week...so much in fact that no one needs gas at night or let's face it, get their candy bar fixings, well, fixed. To add to this wonderful crap sundae, it started to snow.
My estimated gas left meter lets me know that I am, in Layman's terms, fucked. 5 miles left until complete empty gas tank and let's be real here, that is NOT enough leeway to explore and find the gas station of your dreams. In a sleepy and desolate area, I felt completely and utterly uneasy of my next moves. The advice I receive from my Mother, call the authorities. Which as I've been doing since I was a teenager when it comes to advice from my Mother...I did not listen. I kept driving.
I kept as cool and controlled as possible and with a lot of luck from the God's, found a gas station less than 3 minutes from my location. Let me tell you, my beautiful followers, I did not maintain that cool for very long. The repression of my panic mode caught up to me and erupted emotional nonsense all over my face, hands, sleeves, and steering wheel. I cried for a full 30 minutes as I drove the rest of the way home.
I hope none of you have to go through what I did the other night. Be smart and plan ahead for your driving endeavors and always expect the unexpected.
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