He's from Colorado originally, and so we met when he realized that I'm a Denver Broncos fan. He's doing coursework out here on digital imaging, and he never seemed particularly happy working at the gas station. He had a one hour commute from Watertown, and sometimes I'd find him chatting with a friend while he pumped gas.
Today, seeing him for the second time in as many days, he let me know that he was in a tremendous mood: today was his final day at the gas station! He's gotten himself a job learning a trade—interior lighting—in Coolidge Corner. It'll give him flexibility on the weekends to pursue disc golf and enough money to travel home to Colorado for Thanksgiving break, perhaps with a side trip to Arizona and Utah.
My tank filled up, and he handed me a receipt with an amiable "have a nice day." I smiled and replied with a hearty "good luck!" and went on my way to work. There's a chance I'll see him wandering around Coolidge Corner at some point in the future, but I'm not counting on it.
It was nice knowing you, Mr. Gas-station-attendant-with-whom-I-actually-talk. Good luck and godspeed.
