Bucket List - Gas light: driving to Blacksburg May 2011 to begin my internship at WR&A
I was
driving along I-81 when I saw that the gas light came on. I realized that I
only had about 15 miles to Sheetz which is where I planned on getting gas. I
didn’t want to stop anywhere else along the way because I had a Sheetz gift
card and I didn’t want to spend my own money unless I absolutely had to. I was
willing to take the risk. After about 13 miles I realized I still had about 5
miles to go. I kept checking my iPhone to see how close I was. I was getting
worried that I wouldn’t make it. I figured gas lights usually come on with
20miles left in the tank so I decided to keep pushing. I finally saw the exit
sign for Sheetz and then got to the light, which was green. I prayed that it
wouldn’t turn red before I arrived and it didn’t. However, I had to down-shift
to make the left turn and the car almost stopped. I continued on and the next
light was red. I yelled, “Come on light TURN GREEN TURN GREEN” but it didn’t
help. I slowly came to a stop in the left turn lane and my car made a noise and
shut off.
I was freaking out. This light was the light right before the Sheetz entrance. All I had to do was turn left and then make another left and I was in. So as the people around me stared at me I tried to figure out what to do. I put my hazard lights on and got out of the car. Thankfully, there were two left turn lanes so I only blocked one of them. Also thankfully, Sheetz was just down the hill on the left. So I walked across the lanes on the other side and down the hill to the gas station. I asked the first guy I came across what I should do and he suggested that I go inside and ask for a container. As I started to walk to the store, a guy with a cane in a pickup truck said he had a 1 gallon tank I could borrow. As he took the can out of the back of his truck I saw that he had a tattoo of a naked woman on his upper arm. A little alarming - he seemed very nice though. So I took his container and filled it up with my Sheetz gift card and then took it across the road to my car. I began to fill it hoping I was doing it correctly. I left a little remaining in the can because I didn’t feel like getting every last drop.
THEN, a police car pulls up behind me and gets out of the car. I’m thinking to myself, oh crap, I’m gonna get a ticket or something. So I kindly say hello and I think he could tell I was really worried about the whole situation. I’m pretty sure my voice cracked when I was talking to him. However, there was no need to worry because he offered to fill my tank with the gas can. I told him I already put it in but he took the tank and said “well there’s still a little left” and put the rest in. I was so taken aback and couldn’t’ believe how lucky I was to get off that easy. I mean, I was parked in the middle of the left turn lane after all. Once he emptied the container I got in my car and he stayed there to make sure the car would start. After it started he said “All right looks like you’re good to go. Give it some gas.” Then I said, “Umm well the light is still red so I think I’m going to wait a little bit.” He looked a little embarrassed and said, “Ok well once it’s green, I’ll make sure you get out safely.” I continuously thanked him and I thought he was going to follow me into the gas station. I was prepared to give him a hug I was so thrilled, but he disappeared. As I was pulling in, the first guy I asked for help gave me a silly smile and a thumbs up. A little embarrassing. I pulled into a gas pump and gave the 1 gallon container back to the tattoo guy. I was so grateful for all the help I received which made this experience much less traumatic. To make this all even more comical was the fact that ALL the belongings I was taking to Blacksburg were stuffed in my car. Lamps included. I looked like a pack rat.
I was freaking out. This light was the light right before the Sheetz entrance. All I had to do was turn left and then make another left and I was in. So as the people around me stared at me I tried to figure out what to do. I put my hazard lights on and got out of the car. Thankfully, there were two left turn lanes so I only blocked one of them. Also thankfully, Sheetz was just down the hill on the left. So I walked across the lanes on the other side and down the hill to the gas station. I asked the first guy I came across what I should do and he suggested that I go inside and ask for a container. As I started to walk to the store, a guy with a cane in a pickup truck said he had a 1 gallon tank I could borrow. As he took the can out of the back of his truck I saw that he had a tattoo of a naked woman on his upper arm. A little alarming - he seemed very nice though. So I took his container and filled it up with my Sheetz gift card and then took it across the road to my car. I began to fill it hoping I was doing it correctly. I left a little remaining in the can because I didn’t feel like getting every last drop.
THEN, a police car pulls up behind me and gets out of the car. I’m thinking to myself, oh crap, I’m gonna get a ticket or something. So I kindly say hello and I think he could tell I was really worried about the whole situation. I’m pretty sure my voice cracked when I was talking to him. However, there was no need to worry because he offered to fill my tank with the gas can. I told him I already put it in but he took the tank and said “well there’s still a little left” and put the rest in. I was so taken aback and couldn’t’ believe how lucky I was to get off that easy. I mean, I was parked in the middle of the left turn lane after all. Once he emptied the container I got in my car and he stayed there to make sure the car would start. After it started he said “All right looks like you’re good to go. Give it some gas.” Then I said, “Umm well the light is still red so I think I’m going to wait a little bit.” He looked a little embarrassed and said, “Ok well once it’s green, I’ll make sure you get out safely.” I continuously thanked him and I thought he was going to follow me into the gas station. I was prepared to give him a hug I was so thrilled, but he disappeared. As I was pulling in, the first guy I asked for help gave me a silly smile and a thumbs up. A little embarrassing. I pulled into a gas pump and gave the 1 gallon container back to the tattoo guy. I was so grateful for all the help I received which made this experience much less traumatic. To make this all even more comical was the fact that ALL the belongings I was taking to Blacksburg were stuffed in my car. Lamps included. I looked like a pack rat.
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