I found these yellow receipts a couple weeks ago stuffed in a paper bag in my car’s glovebox. I was so totally confused as to where they came from that I stared at them for a minute, studying the name of the convenient store –– Circle K. And then I started laughing because my favorite movie quote involves a Circle K (and the late great George Carlin).

But of course this did nothing to jog my memory.

Why did I have four $50 gift card-activation receipts from a Circle K in Sarasota? It wasn’t until I looked at the date: May 31, 2007 that I recalled where they came from.

Remember when I mentioned that my old roommate Zac threw me a surprise bon voyage dinner party when I embarked on my Steinbeck-ian (à la Travels with Charley) road trip a few years ago? Well, in addition to cooking my favorite authors’ favorite foods, he handed me a paper bag containing $200 in gas gift cards to help get me on my way. He and several friends pitched in on them, including the friend who introduced me to my husband.

All that remains of this gesture is four yellow receipts dating back to May 31, 2007 and of course a streak of blue highway stretching from the gulf coast of Florida to northern Illinois. I thought I’d post ’em here, for posterity’s sake. The receipt ink is already starting to fade.