Ian is, for the moment, obsessed with gas stations. Well, obsessed isn't quite the right word. He is delighted by gas stations.

We'll be driving down the highway and he'll excitedly say, "Look, Mom. It's Exxon! It has regular, plus, and V-Power!" He knows which gas stations have Duncan Donuts and which ones have Food Marts. One of them, I can't remember which, has a store for buying soda and cigarettes called "On the Run." Ian particularly likes that one. He can recite the names of about forty different gas stations. It's a gift.

Ian's joy over gas is infectious, and we've all sort of gotten in on the act. He's made up a little chant about gas stations, and Jonah will join in with gusto.

The other day, he saw a man walking down the street wearing an Exxon t-shirt and his eyes lit up. "Mom, that man had an Exxon t-shirt!"

I decided that I had to get Ian an Exxon t-shirt, because his head would explode with sheer happiness. I did a little googling, but I couldn't find anything appropriate. There were t-shirts with baby otters covered with oil and anti-Exxon messages on the back. There were t-shirts about drilling girlfriends rather than oil. Not quite right. See, my son is pro-fossil fuels.

I think I'm going to have to write a letter to Exxon to see if they'll sell me one of their t-shirts.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to purchase an Exxon t-shirt for my son (children's, size medium).

I feel obliged to say that I consistently vote for members of Congress that support the research for alternative energy sources. I support a moratorium on all off-shore drilling. I believe that burning fossil fuels is a major cause of greenhouse emissions and had led to global warming. My next car will be a hybrid.

However, my son is a huge fan of your company and would dearly love a t-shirt. I try to promote all of my children's interests, even those that degrade the environment.

Thanks so much.

Well, at least it's not Phillip Morris, right?