Erling’s post was most interesting. I have noticed too how
people are much more apt to smile and greet others during the Christmas
season. This should be the way it always is but we are finding the good
old North Dakota traditions of helping strangers and waving to other
drivers is starting to change. The new influx of out of state people
who are here to cash in on the oil field boom has brought with it some
of the less friendly and trusting attitudes from other parts of the
country. A couple weeks ago I was in one of the larger towns in the
western part of the state and pulled into a larger gas station to fill
my pickup with gas. I started the fill process and pressed the ‘pay
inside’ button on the pump but nothing happened. As I was looking to
see if I did something wrong, a voice came on the intercom on the pump
and said, “If you want gas on pump #1, you will have to come in and pay
before you pump it. ” I walked into the busy station and told the gal
I was on pump one and she asked how much I wanted, which I didn’t know
as I was going to fill and didn’t know how much it would take. She
asked if I had a driver’s license? I said I did but wondered what
difference that would make? I took it out and she took it and stepped
back and said,”Now you can go pump your gas.” She held my license until
I paid for the gas. My son is driving a semi tanker hauling water in
the oil patch right now and he says there have been so many drive offs
they had to get real tough. He just laughed when I told him of my
little experience. The way North Dakotans have always trusted each
other is being changed rapidly. Many years ago, we were out of state
and had to pay before pumping and I thought people sure were scared of
losing gas, but here it is! Yeah, I know, bah humbug! Thanks Gary!

Dick