54.14
Lately, when I’ve gone to the pump to gas up the car, I’ve gone with a number in my head. I’ll put in forty bucks worth of gas, and that will have to last me. I haven’t been filling the tank because, well, gas is expensive. In my neck of the woods, it’s up to $3.50 – $3.65 a gallon and I’ve seen $3.99 for the premium stuff.
On Friday, with my tank on empty, I decided to go all the way and fill it up. The final total came to $54.14. Now, I should explain that I get pretty good gas mileage. My car is not a hybrid and it’s not a hummer. It’s an average car that I like a lot. It’s even red.
Still, $54.14. That number kept turning around in my head. That is a significant chunk of change. Yes, I know the dependence on oil in this country is out of control, and yes, we’ve become a culture of car drivers. Yes, I probably should ride my bicycle more.
However, 54.14 could also mean someone else has ten dollars less in the food budget that week. 54.14 could mean no movie date night on Saturday night, and that (from my point of view) would be a real bummer.
So shame on you, Mr. President, for not knowing the price of gas. Then again, I think he does know and like many other things chooses to look the other way.
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