On my commute this morning, I passed by an antique store on Route 66.
I stopped to check out the bikes for sale out front, hoping to find a rarity. (Once this store had a Schwinn tandem out front for about an hour before someone snagged it.)
Today is was a Huffy and another generic brand. But I noticed something more interesting, like a museum exhibit from the future showing the history of the wheel.
Do you see it?
In the foreground is a hybrid-electric car.
Then the two bikes.
Then a rusty old plow with an iron wheel.
Then, through the glass, two not-so-old gas pumps.
I really like the thought of gas pumps as antiques–in the same way I like the idea of having a robot that will clean my house.
Oh brave new world…
Probably not in my lifetime.
The store wasn’t open yet, but the owners were there. They came out, wondering why I was taking a photo of the back of their car. I relieved them both of their paranoia, and of their hope that they might make an early sale. They went back inside, convinced I was just a harmless nut with a bike and a camera.