WEIGEL’S TO “EXXOFF” TO WEIGEL’S, WITHIN LIFE CONTEXT (published 6-30-2019; updated 11-9-2022)

11/9/2022 Update

Early this morning, on 11/9/2022, website analytics showed that this article was viewed once in the last 24 hours. Who viewed it? I don't know. I reread what I'd published on Sunday, 6/30/2019.

Today, I added this update, and I improved the grammar and style of the original article, which follows. I had written this article in a hurry. The topic was “life, such as it was,” from March to June 2019, in the context of eleven gasoline fill-ups.

Eleven Fill-Ups, in the Context of Life

On Thursday, 3/28/2019, as had been known for a while, the Weigel’s in our “great metropolis” closed, to be destroyed and reborn as the new, improved, and larger Weigel’s. (The new store now stands on the same spot.) I was driving home from “the Hadean realm,” on an appropriately rainy day, and saw the closed signs.

In late March, that meant that this Appalachian Irishman had to buy 100% gasoline at the “Exxoff,” which is across the road. Their sole 100% gasoline pump stands alone, at a corner. I don't burn 10% sugared gasoline in my new ol' truck. I didn't burn it in my dearly departed old ol' truck.

You have to go in, state 100% gasoline fill-up, leave a credit card, fill up, return, and pay. For the following ten times, within the context of life, as noted, I “enjoyed” filling up at the “Exxoff.” All dates are Saturdays, unless otherwise noted. My “bionic” right foot certainly did not like all the extra steps on the asphalt and concrete. Eleven fill-ups are listed. One was in Morristown.

(1) 3/30/2019, first tank: After my solo hike at Norris Dam State Park, I filled up for the first time. My “bionic” right foot is not bothered as much on a hike in the woods (on natural soil). Asphalt and concrete aggravate my foot harshly.

(2) 4/6/2019, second tank: On Tuesday, 4/2/2019, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had minor outpatient surgery, to remove a “lump of fat” (as I call it). The next day, I took another day off from work, to tend to Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, who was recovering well. Also, on that Wednesday, I had a tooth re-patched. (On 2/24/2012, my lower, left, and front tooth had been patched. That patch had popped off.) After that dental visit, I hiked “My Mountain” (House Mountain) for the 158th time! On 4/6/2019, I had a haircut, went to the Tractor Supply, and bought gasoline.

(3) 4/13/2019, third tank: For other details, see the 4/13/2019 article, “4-13-2019: Papaw Ferrell's Birthday in 1880 & Ruger Replaced.” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was with me. Yes, I filled up with gasoline.

(4) 4/21/2019, fourth tank, on Resurrection Sunday: The 4/21/2019 article, “Good Friday – Passover 4-19-2019,” describes our visit, on 4/20/2019, with my youngest brother and his family.

On the afternoon of 4/21/2019, after having visited with the in-laws, I was alone to buy gasoline. A very friendly female employee, about my age, worked on the purchase. She tried to upsell me a corn dog. I declined politely. (I had told the in-laws, before leaving, that I needed to “hunt me a corn dog,” but I did eat a bite, before leaving their house.)

The overly friendly female employee – on Resurrection Sunday, of all days – tried to “upsell” herself! She stated, with a smile and a blink, “I can give you whatever you want!” That’s the first pass that any woman has made at me, since I acquired “bionic body parts” in 2016! That was just funny! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, however, was not amused, once I told her!

4/27/2019, note: I filled up with 100% gasoline in west Morristown, after Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I enjoyed a fine visit with three good friends and the father of one friend. By the way, that's also the day when a CD got stuck in the CD player of my new ol' truck. Does anyone know how to get it out? I’ll pay good money for help! Yes, it’s still stuck!

(5) 5/5/2019, Sunday, fifth tank: It was a rainy day, two days after the birthday of a good friend. I “love” to fill up the tank in the rain.

(6) 5/11/2019, sixth tank: I had conversed by phone with the man, whose son mows the yard at the homeplace. They're in business together. That was a fine conversation!

(7) 5/18/2019, seventh tank: Two days before the fill-up, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I celebrated, within the context of routine work days, our thirty-third wedding anniversary. Aside from getting gasoline, on 5/18/2019, we also shop-vacuumed the basement and tried to patch a leaking pipe.

(8) 5/25/2019, eighth tank: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was with me for the fill-up. She was hunting for the previously mentioned female flirter! The flirter wasn't there. Before the fill-up, we visited with a good neighbor and friend, who was hospitalized in the intensive care unit. We could only visit at a distance.

(9) 6/1/2019, ninth tank: This was the first day of meteorological summer! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I visited our good neighbor and his wife. He was still hospitalized, but in a regular room. Several days later, he was able to return home, fully recovered.

Afterward, we bought gasoline, and Mrs. Appalachian Irishman hunted for the flirter! The flirter was there, but Mrs. Appalachian Irishman didn’t see her! I saw her. I kept my mouth shut! It was just funny!

I still haven’t told my “long-suffering” wife. I don’t want her to go to jail for assaulting the flirter! (If she has read this article, she hasn't yet made a comment!)

Finally, we went to the IGA. I walked from the IGA to the nearby Dollar General Store to buy a new beard trimmer. My “bionic” right foot and knee took the pounding on the asphalt but “talked” to me.

(10) 6/9/2019, tenth tank: For serious details, see the 6/9/2019 article, “Life Changes – Hunt Down the SOB!” Today was the eleventh and final 100% gasoline fill-up at the “Exxoff.” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I had visited her folks. The weather was cooler, so she stayed in the truck. The female flirter was there again! You should have come into the store with me, dear!

Conclusion

The brief article -- “6/15/2019 Gas Update!” -- mentions the first purchase of 100% gasoline at the new and improved Weigel's. Yesterday, 6/29/2019, I filled up at the new store for the third time.

By the way, the female flirter doesn’t work at the new Weigel’s!

As another point of humor, my desk calendar shows that tomorrow, July 1st, is Canada Day. Why is that on the calendar? What is Canada Day?

As a closing thought, I have plans for a four-day “retirement” (time off work) from July 4th through the 7th. Let’s see what happens!