The day I’ve been dreading for well over a week has inevitably arrived: I need to stop for gas.
Due to the war in the Middle East, gas prices have recently scraped more skies than any building metaphorically could. And because my country runs a very high tax scheme on gas, prices have risen even higher.
At the rate they’re going, they’ll be scraping the moon next. Say hi to Artemis II for me 👋
With sweaty palms cupping the steering wheel, I manoeuvre my car to the once-trusty-and-now-dreadful gas station and silently curse the fuel indicator which has just now dropped into the red zone.
Ugh.
Ursula is in desperate need of a refill – and it’s going to be a pricy one!
(Ursula is my car in case you missed that from when I tried to write fairytales.)
As I connect the fuel hose to Ursula’s wanting mouth (well, I could have gone for a different metaphor considering her mouth is at her backside, but I’ll leave this blog clean and prosper), I decide to look away from the meter while it’s running up – fast.
Because it’s sunny, it’s bright. So I close my eyes as I squeeze more and more fuel into my vehicle.
Next to me is another gas dupe; I can heir their deep sighs cohering with mine.
Willie Nelson
“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around”
Yet… Something in me changes as the fuel hose automatically clicks off and I involuntarily turn to check how many ribs this is going to cost me.
At least I am safe.
This voice is new!
My head’s done nothing but complain and whine – you should have heard what it said as I took in the final debt of my gas trip: about one and a half times I normally pay.
This other voice is different. It’s… friendly. It’s calm. It’s…
Grateful.
I am happy I am not in danger.
I am happy the worst I experience from this war is high gas prices.
I am happy I can afford them.
I am happy the sun is warming my face, that I am safe, that my car’s filled up and that I get to go home without bombs falling down on my country.
As the person next to me moans a final cry, I put the fuel hose back and feel a smile adjust my face as gratitude creeps in.
Things could be a lot worse. Let’s be grateful they’re not.
I step in, drive home with this rebirth of my mind, and then I light a candle.
To pray for the ones who don’t have the luxury of worrying over high gas prices.
Elle Vampa 
I am sorry that our President’s idiocy has had such an effect on the rest of the world. Hopefully, things will return to normal at some point, and by normal, I mean a time before D. J. Trump.
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