When I started attending college back in the late 80’s full-service stations were everywhere. Not once, did I worry about my tires, water or oil being low because I went to a full-service station and they checked those items for me. I also didn’t have to wash my windshield. I didn’t even mind paying for the extra service as that meant that I didn’t have to check the oil, tires and other stuff. Today, not so much. To my knowledge, the last full-service station in Hot Springs has died.

Last year I was traveling in north Arkansas and my check engine light came on. I was pretty sure it was because I needed to add oil but I hadn’t been to my meeting yet and I didn’t want to get dirty. It was a small town and I thought I would stop and ask if there was a full-service station anywhere. I walked into a convenience store to ask the clerk (who looked to be in her mid-twenties). The conversation went something like this:

Me: Excuse me, is there a full-service gas station around here?

Clerk: There’s one right there (pointing outside)

Me: (while looking out the window) Where?

Clerk: Right there…you put gas in at the pump.

Me: OHHH, no I meant a full-service pump.

Clerk: It is full-service

Me: Oh, really you have a guy that services the cars?

Clerk: No, you do it yourself.

Me: Oh, uhh Ok. I meant do you have a gas station where there’s a person who pumps your gas for you?

Clerk: I don’t think so; but you can go down the block to that garage on the corner and ask them. Do they really do that?

Me: Yes, well they used to. Thanks for your help.

Seriously, I felt ancient after walking out of the store. The clerk was looking at me as if I were asking her for a water trough for the horse. All the baby boomers are getting old and while the price of gas and oil is all ready outrageous, I bet the boomers would pay that extra $ for full service. In an era of “do-it-yourselfer’s” I really am a dinosaur.