Rob Peter Pay Paul...

Today was one of those days where things don’t always go right; however, it was good for a chuckle…or maybe more.

After the stupendous beauty of Yosemite, the Venzaliner made its way in search of propane. Ending up parked next to a propane pump at an ARCO station in Oakdale CA, I checked my voicemail and e-mail before tending to the real matter at hand.  First mistake…when you exit the vehicle, make sure you have your keys.  Yes, it happened…I locked my keys in the car.  No problem, the spare key is under the front wheel well…not after 18,000+ miles.  No fear, Good Sam is only a phone call away and like Uncle Sam, he knows where you are! Good Sam will be here within the hour; plenty of time to get propane...then again, maybe not.

Did you know ARCO only takes cash or debit card? Well, now you know!

Second mistake…always carry emergency cash or at least know your PIN number to your credit card (or maybe even carry your debit card). Enter Peter and Paul or rather Eshaan (“E”) and Hakeesh (“H”). Jake Rohde, where are you? You would be able to interpret this for me! Here’s the short story…

E: “Sorry, no take credeet cawd only cash or debeet cawd”

J: “I don’t have cash or debit card, only credit card; will you take a check”

E defers to H

H: “NOOOO check…only cash or debeet cawd. Use macheen ober dar”

Bubble thought…J: Hmm, am I talking to a machine or people? Machine over there?  What the heck?

Bubble thought…E&H: Who is this woman…doesn’t have cash or debit card?

J: “Sorry guys, I don’t have a PIN number for my credit card to get cash. My apologies, long story, but my keys are locked in my car, I don’t have any cash, debit card or PIN number for my credit card. I didn’t know you only took cash or debit card; if so, I wouldn’t have filled the propane tanks. It’s 8:30pm and I don’t have any way to get cash. 

H: “You pay cash or debeet cawd”

J: “I understand that; however, I don’t have either. What do I do? You want to take the propane back?” (a little chuckle)

H: (scoffs) “Can’t take back. No way get back. We take tanks”

J: (LOL) “You can’t take my tanks, those are mine…only the propane is yours”

H: “Only take cash or debeet cawd. No pay we call cops”

J: (shrug shoulders) “Guess you have to call the cops because I don’t have any cash or debit card, you don’t take check or credit card, and I’m not going to give you my tanks”

Bubble thought…J: Not sure what the cops are going to do…It’s not like I don’t want to pay for it…only in CA…

Bubble thought…E&H: Is this lady for real?  Only in CA…

H: “Have ideeah. You go Eshaan to gas station down street feeelll his tank. Eshaan pay me cash”

J: Bubble thought…Enter Rob…”Okay,  that could work.” ROFL…(fill, right?!) “How much is the propane?

H: “No just feeellll tank”

J: “Yes, I feeellll tank…need to know how much to feeellll tank…what does the propane cost?” (Oh my, I’m starting to talk like them and I definitely don’t want to feel E’s tank!)

E: “Hakeesh, let me do dis”

H: “Just need money for propane”

E: “Propane is $34.33” (E waves his hand to follow him)

E&J: Exit store….E&J, isn’t that brandy?  I could use some right now!

E: Gas station down dar..you ride wit me or meyt me dare?

J: Since my keys are locked in my car, I either walk or ride with you.  At this point, I feel like we are best friends…besides, you already know I don’t have any cash so if you mug me all you will get is a credit card without a PIN number… J

E: “I have half tank so will feeelll wit premium because regular don’t cost dat much.”

J: “No problem, I guess we just have to charge $34.33.”

Eshaan (name changed to protect the innocent), polite young man, drives across traffic and down a block to Valero where we get out of his car and the Valero dude is sweeping outside and says, “Hey (with a weird look), what’s up?”

E: Laughs…”Long story…just gettin’ gas”

On the way back to ARCO, Eshaan shared how he didn’t fill his gas tank full today because his girlfriend was going to take his car to the city tomorrow and she would pay for the gas and now he has to pay $34.33 for premium gas that he didn’t want. I commented…Eshaan, just don’t have your girlfriend pay the $34.33 to Hakeesh, that could get real confusing.

WOW…all I could think is I just robbed Peter to pay Paul; however, propane at $3+ per gallon was highway robbery too! Is that an eye for an eye?

Yes, Good Sam arrived and I jumped in the Venzaliner and skedaddled adding two items to tomorrow’s to do list…key and cash!