Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time....

(Editor's Note: If any of my grandkids are reading this, just remember Grandpa did some crazy things when he was a young boy growing up. That doesn't mean you need to do them. Always try to follow what you think is the right thing and not the wrong thing. And, well, if you screw up, let me know about it and I'll try to help you explain it to your parents)



You know, what seemed like a simple solution to a simple problem, well, maybe it wasn't the smartest thing in the world.

I'm talkin' about siphoning gasoline. I'm guessing most guys my age and some girls for that matter have probably siphoned gas at least once or twice in their lives. I mean, if you ran outta gas some place it was a simple process to siphon some gas out of your friends car's gas tank into a paper cup or beer bottle and pour it in your gas tank. Remember?

Now, since the Statute of Limitations for prosecution of doing some stuff like that has expired I guess I can share a story or two.

I'm not gonna name names here, but I'll just use nicknames.

There was only one of us who had a car back in the day. Or let lone a driver's license.

"Burglar Bob", well, he had both....hmmm...maybe or maybe not about that license.

It wasn't unusual to have an empty gas tank on a Friday night when  we would be out runnin' around, so we would head to our "nest egg of gasoline" the school bus barn somewhere over off of Dixie Drive in Dayton, Ohio.
We always had the needed 1 gallon or 5 gallon can and, ugh...I hate to tell you what we, or at least I used when it was my turn to get the gas. It was the rubber hose that came off the end of the enema bag that Mom had in a box up in the bathroom closet. Now, all of you relax. If you know anything about an enema bag you knew fluid only went one way. So not to worry, it didn't have anything else passing thru it. Also, after I gripped it from Mom, I never returned it. And, when I was questioned about its disappearance, I denied everything.

"The Jer" was the best siphoner. It was truly a skill. Again, any of you who have ever siphoned gas, know what it's like to get a mouthful. Even worse when you swallow it. Well, "The Jer" had the knack. He brought the gas right up to his mouth and transferred the hose to the gas can at the last possible second. When you waited till the last moment you always got the best flow.

"The Jer" also had the uncanny skill of being able to take a mouthful of gasoline, light a match, place it in front of his mouth and spit the gasoline through the flame. It was the craziest and coolest thing I think he did....well, at least one of them.

Now, I'm not sure if "Fast Eddie" ever did any siphoning, He was so danged smart, that he probably stayed around the perimeter standing guard or figuring out an excuse if we got busted. I think all of us always felt "Fast Eddie's" ability to think on his feet through a challenge was one of his best traits. And, I guess it paid off in his latter years.

Anyway, after we got the can or cans full, we'd head out for a night of cruisin' and just doin what kids did back then.

If you haven't ever siphoned anything. I might  suggest you try it with water before you go for the real thing. Also, watch out for those fumes, they can be quite addictive as well. Um, that story for another time.

Yep, I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time.