Let me take a break from philosophical/religious/political meanderings to talk about a really important subject: carbonated beverages. Now, depending upon where you come from in the United States . . . you might say "coke" (to which you say "I'd like a coke," when the waiter asks you "What kind of coke?" you say, "Dr. Pepper.") . . . others say "soda" (emphasis on the "o" as in Oklahaoma) . . . other say "pop" as if "pop" is spelled paap.
For a long time, I refused to drink any form of soda/pop/coke. I was a purist--only water and juice for me. Then, grad school came, and I had to learn what it meant to work, study, and live for someone other than myself. Thus, I needed some good 'ol fashion caffeine.
This occurred in Abiliene, Texas. The year was 2003. I became hooked on Dr. Pepper . . . the official drink of the state of Texas. From 2003 until the summer of 2008, I was a huge consumer of Dr. Pepper (also known as the pop real men drink).
Something changed though. When Kara and I spent part of our summer traveling (London, Uganda, Paris) I stopped craving DP. Instead, Sprite sounded oh so good.
Just like that, I don't drink Dr. Pepper. Don't miss it at all. Is that weird or what? Have any of you heard of this kind of radical pop conversion? If so, please share your testimony.
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When Karen was pregnant with Fonda Lilly the doctor made her cut out caffeine due to FL's slow growth. Since I held her to doctor's orders she made me go cold turkey off of Coke so I replaced it with Club Soda. FYI, this was a close to 6-pack a day habit. To this day I've been able to keep my Coke consumption down to a very rare occurrence.
What's fun though is to watch waters/waitresses do the double take when Fonda Lilly orders Club Soda. One flight attendant almost picked a fight with Karen on a flight because she didn't think it was healthy for kids to drink it. If I had been there I would've told her it would only be unhealthy if she had asked it to be cut with a little bourbon.
I have switched my pop fix numerous times. Most of high school was Diet Coke... which is random because my family is full of die-hard regular Coke drinkers. I kept up the DC until college when I was introduced to Dr. Pepper. I drank this religiously for almost 3 years. Then one day, I just didn't want it anymore. It's weird. I still drink it from time to time, but not like I used to.
Last year I didn't really drink much pop until the summer and I only drank Coke Zero. Then, I stopped drinking that at the drop of a hat and now I'm on this weird Mountain Dew fix. I never even used to like MD until all of a sudden one day I started craving it.
I've never experienced a soda conversion. I've been a Pepsi man all my life. But Pepsi only. When the waiter asks what I want to drink, I know better than to order a Pepsi because if it is a Coke establishment, they will just bring me one of those. So I carefully ask, "Do you have Coke or Pepsi?" If they only have Coke, then it's water for me.
I don't think I'd do well in some areas of the south.
I had a similar international experience.
I have noticed in my traveling to Africa and Central America that Fanta is like football(soccer). Fanta is the most popular drink internationally just like soccer is the most popular sport internationally.
In the states however, Fanta can be found, but not everywhere. Similarly soccer is played and watched, but not to the extent it is internationally.
Saying all that, when I came back from Africa my "coke" of choice was Fanta.
Russel,
That's a hilarious story. It does not surprise me one iota. Ha. I'm laughing hard right now.
Courtney,
I've never been able to Do the Dew as the commercial says. You have jumped around. What's next...Rock 'n Rye? Ha.
Scott,
A Pepsi elitist. At least you are consistent.
Justin,
Fanta was everywhere in Europe and Africa. You are so right. Hmmm. I'm going to give this more thought.
JG
I was die hard DP until I fell in love with Pineapple Mirinda.
Now that I'm back in the states and PM isn't an option, DP is back as the soda of choice.
i hear some people like water with bananas... thoughts on that, Josh??
Tess.....i am laughing so hard right now!
Emily,
I guess when you go back to Africa this summer it will be no DP for you.
Tessa,
I deny any awareness of mixing bananas and water. Strawberries and water is a Romanian thing I think. But bananas seems crazy. :)
In HS & College it was DP.
As a grad student and while in Houston it was Energy Drinks. Then, I almost died. I think. Energy Drinks tore me up.
Now it is a lot of water and Sweet Tea.
Ross,
Glad you are staying off the energy drinks. I'm holding you accountable.
JG
When I embarked on my teaching career back in 1971, you could get 6.5 oz. Cokes out of the machine in the men's lounge. They were powerful - bearing little resemblance to the watered-down Coke of today. Once internalized, they supplied all the fuel I needed to confront 7th graders for a full day.
Mercy, I miss 'em.
Tim,
Sounds like a Coke conspiracy to me. I've always wondered why the DP purchased from the HQ in Texas is much more potent than other DP. I'm sure there's a logical reason. I feel like we've been used by drug dealers. The first sample is potent. The ones to follow get weaker and weaker. So I'm told. I watch a lot of movies :)
I'm a native Texan, therefore a disciple of the "good doctor"... Pepper, that is. When I moved to Tennessee a few years ago, I was still hooked on the Texan nectar. It wasn't until my then girlfriend (my now wife) who happens to be a nurse made the magical discovery that caffiene made my heart beat irregularly that I had to quit cold turkey. Just awful! I wanted to pray to God,
"Create in me a healthy heart and renew the 23 flavors within me. Cast me not away from the Pepper, O Lord, and take not this beverage from me. Restore unto me the joy of Dr Pepper and renew all of those flavors within me."
But I didn't.
Now it's basically any caffiene free beverage I can get my hands on.
I love my wife.
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