Have YOU ever tried to drive away from the gas pump with the nozzle still inserted?

I posted that as my status on FB last night. Sounds like a lot of you have!

But I bet your story isn't as crazy as mine. . .

So, yesterday afternoon, after doing all my errands, I decided it would be a good idea to get some gas.

Ya know, so we wouldn't be sucking fumes all the way to Church and back today.

I pulled in and waited for the person ahead of me to come back outside and leave.

Apparently, this person was a cash payer, because after about 10 minutes, she came out and just got started pumping her gas.

I decided that I'd waited there long enough, and just then, the lane next to me was clear.

So I quickly pulled ahead and then backed into that lane. Sure, my tank was on the opposite side as the gas pump now,

but - I've pulled the hose over and down and it was long enough before.
(At a different gas station).
No problem at all.
So I swiped my debit card through the reader, and then picked up the nozzle and pulled it up, and over - wait - cheap gas station!!!

Who the heck installed such short hoses?

So I jumped back into the 'burb and tried to quickly pull out, turn around, and drive back in again. Well, since it was Saturday, it was busy, and before I could get completely turned around, another car pulled in.

He was oblivious. It wasn't his fault.

So, I pulled around and it just so happened that the lane next to the one I'd just been in just opened up. So I got out and asked the guy who stole my lane (not his fault!) to check his receipt when he was done to see if it was on my debit card or his. He was a good guy, thankfully, and checked it when he was done. Meanwhile, I had gotten the gas flowing for real into my tank. Good Guy came over to my car door and we determined that yes, it was charged onto my card, and he gave me the cash. I don't know, but another person might have just said "thanks for the gift of gas, see ya..." so I think I lucked out here.

We finished our little transaction, and then I put my 'burb in gear and started to drive off. (I guess in my distracted, deranged mind I thought I was all done with this gas station!)

Suddenly, a guy ran over and banged on the passenger side window, and another dude in an old blue pickup pulling into Good Guy's lane next to me started honking and pointing.

I realized - The Nozzle Is Still In My Tank! and I hit the brakes.

Luckily, the hose was just long enough that no damage was done, just a slight gasoline spill.

No Exxon Valdez here.

As I was out of the car and checking for damage, the dude who'd tapped on my window came over to check me out. He was scruffy, in a work coat and beanie cap, but he stood there looking at me like I was on drugs or something. I guess I can't blame him for that, can I? So I gave a quick explanation of what'd happened and he wandered off...
Meanwhile, my boys were in the car, still being wild and crazy (which I am sure had contributed at least a little bit to my distraction).
So I opened the door and stuck my head in and calmly (but NOT quietly) proceeded to chew them out, saying that they needed to get back in their seat belts and be quiet and quit jumping all over the place. I shut the door, and went to check on the progress of my tank being filled. (Dang, these 26 gal tanks take forever to fill up!)
Then I noticed the Dude in the Old Blue Pickup watching all this happen will almost a grin on his face, so what else could I do? I laughed and said "do you have kids, too?" and he said "yes" and so I said that then he must know how it is. . . and I thanked him for saving me and my car and the whole entire gas station from blowing up (not exactly in those words, but ya know what I mean).

It was one of those situations where I felt like I had to explain what had happened, so that he'd know I wasn't drunk or on crack. . .

Just a crazy mommy having a really crazy day!