Reply #34: I hear you! The ultimate change came when

[No Exit]

the so-called "oil crisis" of the early 70's supposedly abated. We went into this alleged "oil crisis" having something called "service stations". How it worked: you pulled your car alongside the pump, and a man came up to your driver window and said, "Fill 'er up?" You said, yes. The man put the pump in the tank and then proceeded to wipe your windshield and check under your hood (checking the oil, for example.) Often he'd check the air in your tires and fill accordingly.

You never had to get out of the car.

After the so-called "oil crisis", we woke up to find that you had to learn how to safely pump gas into your own car. You could possibly clean your own windshield, if so inclined, using a dirty squeegee and some dirty water which was in some little containers. You could put air in your own tires if so inclined; of course, nowadays, you pay fifty cents for the air. Then you went inside to the cash register and stood in line to pay. (As you know, it's only in recent years that one can use the card to turn the pump on, thus making a trip inside unnecessary.)

It's a small thing, pumping your own gas. But it is indicative of the problem you mentioned.

And of course any mom-and-pop-owned gas stations were shit outa luck. I know of one, owned by neighbors of ours, which closed down.