Todd Terwilliger

I remember where I was when I saw it. It may be vitally important to remember these details- the last moments of the before now that I’ve been plunged into the after. What I have seen cannot be unseen.

The Ice Station Zebra brand of cold that the city has been experiencing of late has kept me, or enabled me to keep myself, from trekking over to my local Associated Supermarket to fill my cupboards. Today I finally broke the vicious cycle by shambling over to grab some much needed supplies.

I had moved with martial efficiency aisle by aisle until finally only the dairy products were left unconquered. I moved along the battlements of steepled cartons, the bricks of butter and cheese, when I beheld it, a monolith not unlike the Monolith, terrible and beautiful in its megalithic self.

And so the Express Lane was lost forever…

It was called Reel Box and it promised movies, for $1.49 for the first night. Oh, sweet, sweet siren song.

It was not activated. Perhaps we are not, even after the Obama election, ready for it’s brand of change. Or else it was not yet plugged in. Whatever the reason, it was inactive. Yet it’s very presence was enough to completely blot out the express lane. The sad unfortunates trapped within the narrow confines, clutching their ten items, or less, were never seen from again. Those poor deluded fools.

But what are the lives of several in the face of movies for $1.49? Not much, not in these troubled times. We may not be ready for that kind of change. Not yet anyway. In that time, in that place, the Reel Box will awaken. And I will be there.

Technorati Tags: associated, monolith, obama, reel box, supermarket