That's Okay, Girlie
by Patrick Dougherty
In 1946, driving was an uncommon privilege, seldom exercised by teenagers, much less a sixteen-year-old girl from rural Pennsylvania. In this era, few people drove because of scarce gas rations. My Nanny was the only girl in her high school who enjoyed this freedom – but it did not come on a silver platter. She worked for her own gas money.
In my grandmother's youth, a typical gas station visit came equipped with myriad amenities that have since faded away with time, such as gas attendants and souvenir maps. My grandmother's hard work at the family gas station was commendable; she was truly a lollapalooza.
Her time as an attendant to her parents' gas station and general store, where she assisted her mother while her father labored on the railroad, began the start of a successful career. Grit and determination were imperative for working with automobiles back in the day. Donning official Atlantic Gas coveralls, she filled up gas tanks with fresh Atlantic fuel, checked dipsticks, adjusted tire pressure, and cleaned windows until they were spic-and-span. One time, my grandmother serviced the Sheriff's car battery and set the caps on the crest of his car's solid black fender without thinking. As a result, the acid on the caps left a pale ring. Although she felt devastated, he kindly responded with, "That's okay, Girlie" – which she perceived as slightly chauvinistic.
Even though gas attendants no longer muster by the pumps in the modern age of self-service, a stop at a gas station always reminds my grandmother of a time when this home-style, accommodating service was the norm. Her tenacity and experience serve as a model for women everywhere, affirming that working women can be successful, even in a male-dominated industry.
In my grandmother's youth, a typical gas station visit came equipped with myriad amenities that have since faded away with time, such as gas attendants and souvenir maps. My grandmother's hard work at the family gas station was commendable; she was truly a lollapalooza.
Her time as an attendant to her parents' gas station and general store, where she assisted her mother while her father labored on the railroad, began the start of a successful career. Grit and determination were imperative for working with automobiles back in the day. Donning official Atlantic Gas coveralls, she filled up gas tanks with fresh Atlantic fuel, checked dipsticks, adjusted tire pressure, and cleaned windows until they were spic-and-span. One time, my grandmother serviced the Sheriff's car battery and set the caps on the crest of his car's solid black fender without thinking. As a result, the acid on the caps left a pale ring. Although she felt devastated, he kindly responded with, "That's okay, Girlie" – which she perceived as slightly chauvinistic.
Even though gas attendants no longer muster by the pumps in the modern age of self-service, a stop at a gas station always reminds my grandmother of a time when this home-style, accommodating service was the norm. Her tenacity and experience serve as a model for women everywhere, affirming that working women can be successful, even in a male-dominated industry.
Patrick Dougherty's essay was in the top 11 essays nationally in the Listen to Life contest.