Living in DUH Moment

Today, I had the supreme pleasure of getting gasoline in our car. The car I don't usually drive. Normally, I would figure out how to wait on my errands until the car with the most gas was home. However today, Brian took that car to work , which left me to take Caleb to basketball practice in the car running on fumes. No problem! I just arranged everything so that we could leave a little early and "gas 'er up" on our way to practice. Everything even ran according to plan, we were in the car and driving on time. We pulled into the gas station and I got out...oh, whoops, I'm driving the other car...gas tank is on the other side. Sooo, back into the car I go, pull out turn around and pull onto the other side...which happens to be the same side I just pulled onto...the wrong side, again. Such fun I was having. Finally, I got it together and pulled around to the right side and got out to fill up. As I was pulling around I just happened to catch sight of a man who had been next to me at my first attempt. I'm sure he thought I was crazy...crazy woman driver.
So, now you know how brainless I can be...but, ah-ha! This is also a teachable moment for you!
Did you know that our cars are built with an indicator that tells us from the inside, which side our gas tank is on?? Really, we don't have to roll down the window and crane our necks or try to
adjust our side mirror to try and get a glimpse of the tank door (ya, we all do it).
If you'll look at the pictures below, you'll see what I mean.
On your gas gauge there is a little picture of a gas pump. If your gas tank door is on the left, you will see the pump hose thingy on the left. If the tank door is on the right of your car, you will see the pump hose thingy on the right.
How clever is that??
...AND why in the name of DRIVERS EDUCATION don't I know this already?? Is this considered insider information that only mechanics know? Something so simple, so easy to understand, and yet nobody seems to know its there.
So, now you can say you learned something useful today and when you go to the gas station next and get struck with "which side is it on?", you can glance at your dashboard and save yourself from a "duh" moment. And if, for some reason your car is not equipped with this little gas pump picture, well, put a piece of clean tape on your gauge and make a mark with a pen. That's what I did in a car we owned a few years ago. I made a mark so small I don't think even Brian knew it was there.
You're welcome and happy gas tank filler up-ing.