Oil, Gas, Petrol, Fuel-or Lack Thereof.

Although it doesn't compare to the gas crisis of the 1970's (pictured at right), North Carolina is most certainly experiencing a gas crisis at the moment.

It has to do with the hurricane that hit the gulf coast a couple weeks back. The main pipeline to this area and much of the southeast was shut down, and is now working at 22% its normal capacity.

Cars are lined up for miles along the roads and people are acting in such a despicable, disrespectful way to each other that police have been brought in to manage the angry, fuel fiending crowds. I am thankful that I work downtown and am in walking distance to downtown. Dustin however, is having a quite a time managing to get to school (20 miles away) and to his work at the garden store (7 miles away). We have been siphoning gas from our lawn mower and our car is currently sitting in the parking lot downtown, out of gas. The truck is running on a wing, a prayer, and half a gallon.

It most certainly makes me more aware of how addicted we are to fuel. Although I was intellectually aware of it for quite some time, it makes me-and hopefully other people-look more closely at how dependent we are. It's scary, eye opening and makes me want to bike more.
I have been walking more places and have been thankful for that. I should have been doing it anyway, but nothing like a gas shortage to get your ass in gear. Before long we shall be back to "normal"-but hopefully not without more of an awareness of how we all play a part in our nations oil addiction.