March 14 - The Quarter Century Mark

Being my twenty-fifth birthday, there was no time like the present to buy myself a birthday gift, so I did.
My roommate Hair and his girlfriend Aly had bought me a case of Coca-Cola, knowing my unyielding addiction to Coke. Of all the possible gifts I could have received, I don’t think any would have been as good as those 24 cans of Coca-Cola. Possibly a big red Coke machine with the narrow glass door that you have to open, then you grab the top of the bottle, pull it out slowly from two metal jaws and there you have it, a ten-ounce glass container of ambrosia! But, he works as a delivery driver at Pizza Hut, and I cannot expect the world.
I used to work at a general store with a machine just like that.
Late one summer night after the store was closed, a group of kids came armed with Styrofoam cups and a bottle opener. They popped open the bottles and let the contents pour into their cups. It was a cool trick until they used up all the slots of soda. That continued for a short time until (as far as I can assume) someone decided to bring a straw to finish the part that couldn't beat the laws of physics.
That week was the last time I saw ten ounce bottles. My great-uncle Oliver always complained about the change from 10 ounce to 16 ounce bottles. "Nobody can drink that much!" I doubt I could make him believe some of my friends aren't satisfied with two-liters. Ollie would turn in his grave.
After I put the Coke in the refrigerator, we went to China Dragon to eat dinner. Hair and Aly paid for that, too. The place is far from classy (as about half of all Chinese places are). The tables are awkwardly small and mismatched, and the chairs do not balance on the tiled floor. Or - maybe the floor doe not balance under the chairs. Anyway, we sat down and ate large portions of Moo Goo Gai Pan, General Tso's Chicken, and Triple Delight, as well as the regular assortment of side dishes.
Then, with nothing better to do, we journeyed through a nearby strip mall, stopping at the clothing and sports stores when Aly saw the sign.
Jacks Aquarium & Pets.
"Let's go in," she said. We, as custom was, said nothing, but followed. There was not much to do in the strip mall, so this was a welcome stop.