FLIP SIDE: We have two types of writers, of late – those who are
frustrated and angry about our high gas prices; and those who are
tired of reading about our gas prices!

Today, the latter: John D. “Dick” Walters, a 1938 graduate of
Bradford High and former petroleum engineer at South Penn Oil Co.,
writes to us from Richardson, Texas.

While he likes checking our website for all the local news, he
says, “I am getting sick of reading about the gasoline prices
people are paying here and there. And, yes, gasoline prices are
high here, too, in Richardson, Texas.”

“The last three time I topped out the tank I paid $3.10 for
regular gasoline. I could have driven another mile or so and got it
cheaper but then I might have used a $1 worth of gas driving to get
the cheaper price. Now is that good economics?

“The price one pays in this state and that state depends on the
state taxes accessed including the federal tax. Let’s talk about
something else for a change.

“For example: I have to take Prilosec for acid reflux also known
as heart burn. Up until about two years ago I had to pay $4 per
Prilosec prescription pill. About that time, the powers to be
allowed one to purchase what they call over-the-counter Prilosec
OTC pill.”

Since then, he purchased a 42-count box at one store for $26.79
and at another, for $23.42.

“Look at the economics – I paid $4 for each prescription pill
and here recently I paid 58.55 cents to 66.98 cent per OTC pill.
Now compare that to the price of gasoline that everyone writes you
about. Does this make good reading?”

He concludes, “Just want you to know that I still have many
friends there in Bradford and I do miss the beauty of the valleys,
hills and the foliage. In fact in the last six years I made two
trips back to Bradford just to see the fall foliage and visit with
friends.

“Hope this e-mail doesn’t offend you or others that might read
any of my remarks herein.”

No offense taken but we do have to admit that, after all the
turmoil over gas prices in the last few weeks, we could use some
Prilosec ourselves. (And at the time he was paying $3.10 a gallon,
we were paying $3.38 a gallon.)