Confession
There’s no easy way to say this, and I’m sure it’s going to disappoint a lot of people, but there’s really no other way to say this other than to just say it.
I’ve started drinking soda again.
It’s been about 6.5 years since I drank soda regularly. In those 6.5 years, I have had a sip or two now and again, mostly to try some new concoction like Vanilla Coke or Wild Berry Pepsi, but I quit drinking soda as a general rule.
My folks visited me a few weeks ago and I picked up some Sprecher’s Root Beer for my dad. When they left, he didn’t take it with him, and Sprecher’s Root Beer is the second-best root beer I’ve ever had, and… well, that’s pretty much what happened. From there, I decided to re-try some other root beers at Culver’s, McDonald’s, at A&W… I may not pronounce “root” correctly, but I do love me some root beer.
Since then I’ve also had some other sodas here and there and I’ve come to remember why I stopped drinking them in the first place: they don’t sit well. I never feel better after drinking a soda, and I often feel worse. And, aside from the Sprecher’s, none of them are so good-tasting as to be worth the trouble.
So, yeah, the pendulum has swung pretty far back the other way here, but I anticipate it heading back toward the middle some time soon. I’m not going to be a militant non-soda drinker, but neither am I going to start drinking it on a regular basis, I don’t think.
It was a pretty good run, 6.5 years. It wasn’t like it helped me all that much, though. I filled the void (my stomach) with plenty of other stuff that was way worse, I’m sure. And, as I’m constantly reminded by pretty much everybody, since I don’t eat veggies or fruits I’m probably headed to an early grave already, so why hurry the process along?
So that’s it. Probably not earth-shattering to anyone, but I thought I’d let you know. And for those of you who are bothered by such things (approximately 51% of you), feel free to read “pop” instead of “soda” throughout this entry, and those readers in the South can just read “Coke.”
This made me cry, not because you started drinking pop, but because I didn't cringe at the word soda. In fact, I didn't even think twice about it until you mentioned "pop" at the end. What have I become???!
"Pop" forever!
As I none soda drinker myself, I was horrified to read you started drinking soda – again. However, since you said this will be done in moderation, I can breathe a sigh of relief. I'm like you, I feel horrible after drinking soda…and I never understood why it was so loved.
And sizzle…I also used to cringe at the word "soda." The I moved to VA and EVERYTHING changed. I remember forcing the word soda to come out of my mouth, but after a year, I broke myself of the midwestern reference to soda ;)
oh yeah…I wrote this with a 5.5 month on my lap. After I set him down I re-read what I wrote and I see there are letters missing or words, but I know you're smart enough to figure it all out. Lesson learned: don't type with a baby on your lap!
say it ain't so, Mark…
You had me worried for a moment there. I initially thought you started taking meth again.
"I've seen the soda and the damage done . . ."
It's actually called "soft drink". If you were wondering. You were.
Welcome back to the dark-side!!!! No, jk! You'll be fine. Unless your a Phenylketonurics or whatever.
I just found this post btw…guess I've just scrolled past it up until now.