I might have told you about soft drink vending machines before….But what I saw yesterday was not normal at all: I saw one apparatus,not just an average automate but a real Giant. Something you immediately have adose of respect for. Ok, so what am I talking about?

 

At the mall, at the cornerof the Burger King, just in front of the entrance of Macy's, its standing self-assured and with that severe look. The most sexy lemoda vending machine of the Northern hemisphere. I mean, you might just like me, have consumed a can of soft drink, but I bet you had not such machine in front of you then. This particular one had it all.

 

Imagine: at the left side a splendid overview of all the available softdrinks - not just the ordinary coca cola or seven up - this man has even minute made. That's style.

 

But certainly that's not all: this machine will spoil you as you immediately will find out. At the moment you have put a coin in him, he on his turn will treat you with a small, yet exclusive piece of entertainment. What this machine can do? He makes a grumpish, even threatening sound. At that moment you feel a bit unsafe and will think “whats happening now.” But at the moment you decide to run away you hear a loud, nearly passionately "crack" when the machines spit out the desired can of softdrink.

 

See it laying there,in his lap, you look at it with love. Its as if you yourself have produced this wonderful product, with a little help from the soft drinking machine. Isnt it sweet?

 

Its laying there crying to get opened and consumed. Its allowed to let yourself go emotionally at such a moment. No one is looking, you can sniff away a tear. I mean, such a thing doesn't happen to you everyday. Then: the softdrink king looks at you proudly and its as where he to say “I like you, man.”

 

You are getting by from all this emotion and where you really were into giving him a big hug, you better did not since two people were just walking by. So, you give him an understanding wink implying “I like you as well' when you take over the can from him, in a way like you take your newborn child in your arms.

 

A lot of things go trough your head at such a moment. From “how can a machine create such beauty” to “man, I wished I was such nice machine” You are drifting away in these thoughts for a couple of minutes when a voice in you head reminds you that the time has come now to open the bitch. And you will, but not before you garantueed the can that it is “nothing personal.”

 

Now the real work starts and you know how things going, this stage of consumption, because you are an experience soft drink-consumer. The pre-fun is done (looking at the splendid overview of softdrinks, the beholding of the magnific can) You now have to put two fingers under the opener and tear the can open.

 

The 'sjjjjj” sound is the most sincere you have ever heard from a can opening. While the can is in its way busy in going open (the liquid is dripping out of it on both sides) you decide to suck on it immediately. That is not really your style normally and you see the vending-machine looking at you a bit frowning. (although he understands your action). 

 

The can is surprisingly rapidly emptied. This however, is in no way to blame to the can, its You who were terribly thirty. So, now you are standing there…in your left hand an empty can and right in front of you this enormous machine. How to account for this?

 

This particular apparatus is very social in such cases, He is not disappointed or aggressively moving for the fact that you just treated his product with a little less respect. He takes it easy. “I would have done that too at you age.” 

 

Now a decisive moment has come. Are you going to get another drink or do you say goodbey in a proper way? I am thinking how you can say goodbye to the softdrink vending friend without hurting him too much. Promising him you will throw the can in a special for this purpose designed dustbin would make a good impression. And you surely will promise to visit him tomorrow again.

 

As you are leaving, you look behind your back, and in the distance you see him there. Its as if he is crying. A bit overwhelmed by feelings of guild,you are strong and try to forget about him. On your way to the pub where you are meeting your friend you are already wondering how they will react when you tell them about your adventure with the drinks vending machine.

 

 

Ger Mennens