You twist the cap off a bottle of flat, hot soda and you pour it out on the gravel. Once cold, refreshing
and inviting...now it stinks of overly sweet charm
and chemicals. You remember that moment, the swinging cooler door, refreshing blast of air, humming refrigeration motors running, rows of colorful labels inviting, the pleasant moment when the cold sweetness first went down...
Or maybe not. I can't honestly say I'm nearly that "present" when I buy a cold drink.