I'm lost, I'm lost

[threeplusfire]

Last night on the way home I saw lines at the gas stations. The Wally World near my job was at $2.55 yesterday and today it is $2.81. There were people backed up on the access road of 183 for $2.43, and fury when the unleaded regular ran out. It's very, very strange.

When I started driving, one of the first tanks of gas I ever purchased cost $.88 a gallon. In college I remember debating with myself between $1.01 and $1.03 on the way home. Last summer it was $1.78. Now I wouldn't mind paying $3.50 a gallon if we had better social benefits and not richer gas and oil companies.

Last night I saw a clip that was just devastating in the emotional intensity of the interview. The reporter, who looked young and maybe like the local weathergirl or junior anchor, was sobbing and holding out the microphone to an older man holding his child or grandchild to him. It wasn't even so much the story, about how his wife let go of his hand in the flood, and told him he couldn't hang on to her anymore because he had to save the children. It was the dead, shell shocked look in the man's face, and how he kept saying, "I don't know where I'm going, I'm lost, I'm lost." It gave me chills, and was probably one of the most horrible things I've ever seen on television.

My grandparents are alright. Their power came back on after just a day, and the yard is full of broken tree limbs. My grandfather seems to be having a grand time of it. My mother just shakes her head.

I left my phone at home today. Damn it.

Comments

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I've seen that little interview clip about six times now, and my heart breaks every single time. That poor, poor man, and all the people just like him.

Gas here today is high but just about what it was before--$2.68 to $2.78 a gallon--except for the enterprising station I saw who already had their prices raised to $3.19 for unleaded. Speculators are great, aren't they?

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Wow. Jumping the gun a bit aren't we? I think it will prbably hit three or higher by the weekend here. I was thinking about going out of town but I don't think I will now.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I'm certain it will climb that high and much higher, but Jesus, buddy, don't shoot your wad until the shortages really hit.

[rm.livejournal.com]

My first memories are of the 70s gas crisis, and we're about a milimeter away.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my mother was a bit spooked by it last night.

from CNN

[rm.livejournal.com]

Consumers can expect retail gas prices to rise to $4 a gallon in the near future, Ben Brockwell, director of pricing at the Oil Price Information Service, said Wednesday. "There's no question gas will hit $4 a gallon," he said. "The question is how high will it go and how long will it last?"

Re: from CNN

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Oi oi oi. Too bad I don't know anyone to car pool with.

[in-thy-bounty.livejournal.com]

A quick conversion tells me that the average price of a gallon in Scotland is $6.13

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Ouch. I have to say, perhaps the high gas prices might cut down on the number of H2 behemoths I see on the road.

[in-thy-bounty.livejournal.com]

Just think, America might actually be forced to cut down on pollution.

Although it's more likely it'll just find another country to invade to steal their oil.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

I really wish I had the money to get a hybrid car.