Sometimes, All I Need is the Air that I Breathe

Finding Fresh Air at Kentucky Lake

Parking in front of the supermarket on a hot sunny day I waited to open my car door because the car next to mine had the engine running, so I thought the driver was about to pull out.  After a few minutes the driver did not leave so I proceeded on into the supermarket.

What surprised me was the fact that the driver was still sitting in his car with the engine running when I returned with my groceries.

Seeing this I started to watch for others who were using this practice to keep their cars cool - or warm when the weather is cold. Now every time I am in a parking lot, I don’t have to patrol the lot and I see quite a few cars with the engine running.

In some cases, this may be because the driver is infirm and didn’t want to go through the supermarket and their passenger was doing the shopping.

I began to notice how many different situations there are where vehicles are left running, making fumes, creating pollution, and just think, burning up dollars.

Delivery trucks keep their engines running while deliveries are being made.

Coach drivers keep the engine running to keep the coach cool, or hot, when dropping off and picking up a group who are on an outing.

Where I live there are many employees who get to work early for their shift and sit in their cars with the engines running (smoking a cigarette) until they go in to start work. I see all these cars when I am out for my walk around the premises.

Employees being picked up from work where the driver of their ‘ride’ sit in the parking lot with the engines of their cars running. Does that mean that the fumes are being sucked into the building?

I believe this happens at other places of employment too - look around.

Early one morning I even saw an employee make sure her dog was comfortable in her car and left it there in the car with the engine running – for hours.

Think about how many fast-food outlets have lines of cars with idling engines making fumes, polluting the air that we breathe and wasting money. 

Might it be just as quick to park and go inside?  Get your order, check that the condiments and content are correct – say hello to the server, surely not all of us are mobility challenged.

 I believe ordering online is easy and then your food can be picked up quicker than waiting in a line.

Using the drive-up teller at the bank is still not as personal as going in and talking to a person.  It used to be when customers went into the bank they would be recognized and welcomed.  If there is a line inside the bank – talk to the person standing next to you.

Instead of using the drive-through, if we went into the drugstore, didn’t the druggist, or clerk, know us and ask about our arthritis or how the baby was doing? And they make sure we understand the instructions for the medication.

My druggist alerted me to call my doctor as my prescription contained something to which I was allergic. He knew me that well.

Because of the Pandemic everyone everywhere was encouraged to use curbside pick-up, but I think like so many habits this has become “too much of a good thing”.

But now everyone needs to be encouraged to park the car, get some exercise, walk in, exchange greetings with human beings not robots.

Please think about the air we all breathe – and stop burning up cash - SAVE MONEY.