that's right... Diet Coke! Mmmmmm ..... Why did I think to start with this food? Well... you know how sometimes, something just tastes a certain way and it just makes you go back in time? Yeah, that feeling? well... that's what happened earlier this week. the slightly flat, a faint bit warm taste of my Diet Coke that I finished off at work the following morning took me straight back to my days in high school.
Maybe it was Jr. High... hmm. anyway. the memory that the taste of that soda envoked was one from going to a basketball game... arriving during the JV game and buying something to eat, a candy of some sort and a paper cup - the wax coated one, mind you - of ice and diet coke. I'd eat everything else and basically sip that soda through out the game and well into the varsity game. By the end of the game, the cup was limp and would collapse at the slightest touch and the soda had gone pretty much watered down and flat but it was still something I drank because I bought it.
I'm not saying that we didn't drink soda - but it was mostly root beer, sprite or 7up and things like that. I drank diet coke or dr. pepper whenever I had the chance because it's not what I could get at home and usually was something reserved for a sporting event or movie. sometimes when eating out.
I think it was also in a misguided attempt at weight control. My almost 20 year struggle with weight has been enlightened over the last couple years with the fact that diet isn't always best for helping you lose weight.
Diet coke is the drink of movies and red robin and Disneyland.
It's the soda that I used to sneak as much as possible ... it went really well with the pop tarts and cookie dough that I used to buy at the student store.
It became the go-to drink when it became apparent that I could give up crystal light or diet coke but not both of them at the same time.
I love it in cherry... in vanilla - I miss it in vanilla... don't mind it with lime ... hate it with lemon and splenda. fine, fine... caffeine free is okay too. and it was an okay drink to nurse all night long when hanging out watching a show at a bar... or comedy club.
it was the drink that made it's way into the tiny courtesy cups at the theatre when we could drink what we wanted in our own cup or the courtesy cups... it's the flavor I long to see in a slurpee... and can now make into my own slurpee thanks to my recent fair purchase... only 6 more to go and it's paid for itself. LOL
Roller skating rinks... hockey games. McDonalds monopoly games... again, disneyland!! ... Diet coke is a part of all those memories.
and still ... in moderation... and on occasion... on the menu.
