This morning I received a dual message at my front door. Here it is.

The message was, “not only is your summer vacation over, but the damn summer is over too, pal!” A heating oil delivery is a good segue to some impressions of “The End of Oil” by Paul Roberts. I’m not quite finished, but the book is a well researched and thorough look at not only the story of oil, but at energy in general, and the um, power associated with having access to it and control of it.

As the price of this critical commodity continues to rise due to growing demand and increasingly uncertain supply, alternatives are becoming more economically feasible. This weekend there was a story about people modifying the gas/electric hybrid Toyota Prius to increase its mileage from 45mpg to 250! The “end of oil” theme seems to be nearing the tipping point when a real trend toward a post-oil future begins to pick up… steam. If you’re so inclined, pick up a copy of the Aug-05 National Geographic. Or read “After Oil. Powering the Future” online.

I also came home to an email invitation to see the Rolling Stones in the insurance capital of… well, of Hartford, CT. I’m not sure yet whether I can attend, and I did rant a bit on Sir Mick and the boys in this space, but it is the Stones afterall, and this may be “the last time.”* I don’t know. I really don’t know… I mean Mick at 62 is the same age as my buddy Norm, and I couldn’t imagine… I mean I NEVER want to see Norm gyrating. EVER.

Anyway, it got me thinking about “the last time” in terms of that saying about living each day as if it were your last. I saw my friends Ron and Francine in Falmouth. It was the highlight of my vacation. Will I get to see them again? I hope so. I didn’t say “I love you” today when I should have. What if I don’t get that chance again? I love you, Megan. You just never know when this time is “the last time,” so please don’t hesitate to say “I love you.” Oh, one more thing so we don’t get too romantic or sentimental. I’m pretty sure today won’t be “the last time” I get an oil delivery this heating season…

* Released on Out Of Our Heads in 1965…