For many years, Mac Andrews had the Gulf Station on the corner by the blinking light in the Harbor, across the street from Wheeler's Drugstore in the building recently completely redone for Alison Evans Ceramics. Many years of good visits there at the wonderful walk-in pharmacy — for drugs and socializing.
Mac and I used to share stories about our times on Barters Island. He had long-time family ties there and we lived in one of the old Roberts’ properties just over the road from the Burnham family and our old friend Eddie Soule. Quite an adventure for a couple of newbies on the block.
Many times while filling up at the Gulf station (now Good 'N You Service where Mac still works) we'd chat about “Peanut Lewis” and the good old days.
Mac would wash and wipe the windshield and maybe check the oil or a defective brake light — still does. He'd also note expired inspection stickers and out-of-date registrations — rare here in the Boothbays!
We'd comment on the cost of fuels, their increases and occasional decreases, the weather, the heat and humidity of Georgia in summer (where Mac boot camped) and family stuff. Always fun to catch up with Mac — still is.
Once I was growling about the price of home heating oil a couple winters back. Mac delivered oil out of Ned's Wharf back in the ’50s, near where McSeagull's is now. He made home deliveries.
“Back then, Robert, I remember how people hollered when home heating fuel rose from 11 to 13 cents a gallon,” he said. “Now look at the price.”
(He has always called me Robert.)
Mac never talked about money much except when he was making change for you at the pumps.
“Yep, hard to believe,” I offered, as Mac gave me what little was left of a $20 for filling a five gallon gas can.