There it was, like a reminder of the olden days: a beat up car outside a preschool with its engine running, as though gasoline was as cheap as pocket lint.

Yes, there was a time in America when people left their car running because they were going right in and right back out. In northern states, we still do it in the winter just so our cars stay warm and don’t encounter starting problems.

But in April, on a 50-degrees-and-sunny morning?

It wasn’t as though it was some brand-new SUV, where it seemed money was nothing to the owner. It was a two-door Chevy with dents in it, and the engine sounded like it needed maintenance. It didn’t appear as though the owner could afford to keep a car running like that.

We imagined it must be a habit leftover from the era of inexpensive gasoline. People would do that frequently, like when running into a store for one item.

Nowadays, people need to conserve every drop. Plus, law enforcement discourages leaving automobiles running because of security reasons. It is a sure sign that the doors are unlocked, too.

If you aren’t turning your car off when you are away from it, perhaps you ought to start changing your habits. Don’t be that gas waster who complains about gas prices, too.