PASSIONATE RATIONS

People are laughing at me.  

“Ugh! Is this expired?!” I exclaim, referencing the can of soda in my hand.

“Soda expires?” they ask, incredulous.

Yes, Virginia, soda expires.  And, apparently (based on the incredulity and snickers with which my foregoing exclamation is always greeted), I am the only one who knows this or can tell.   Well, maybe not the only one, since the soda industry did go so far as to add expiration dates to containers of soda a few years back.   I’m sure they didn’t do so without the economic weight of complaints behind the change.  Some have proffered that maybe the industry did it solely to drive more soda buying, but, as I spit the vile liquid that once was undoubtedly a perfectly good Diet Dr. Pepper into the sink, I don’t believe it.

I’m not necessarily proud of the fact that I am able to discern the finer points of soda vintage, since it probably means I drink far more soda than can possibly be healthy.  Perhaps I would be better off turning this peculiar skill toward more wine drinking, which, I suspect, would be seen as more respectable….

Aaannnnyway….

Word of advice:  check your expiration dates.  Your other guests may not notice, but I most certainly will.