Several days ago, a reader sent in word that something very special was being offered at 7-Eleven, and I've spent every night since driving over the bridge into Jersey, going to 7-Eleven, finding nothing, and paying a six buck toll to get back home.
Well, screw them! Today, I drove out to the only 7-Eleven in my own city, which is somehow four times further away than the one in Jersey. At least there were no tolls involved. I didn't have high hopes because I always have to sweat for a week before 7-Eleven makes good on its promised promotions, but lo and behold, there it was: My new favorite Slurpee in history.
Unbelievable! Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash has been immortalized as a 7-Eleven Slurpee! Finally, we have an official, 100% legit holiday Slurpee!
Is it wrong that I pissed endorphins at the sight of this? See, here's the thing: Every holiday season should have its own little things to make it special and memorable. There's absolutely no guarantee that this Slurpee will return next year. I'll be pissed if it doesn't, but on the other hand, it'd help give 2007 one of its few exclusive holiday graces. We don't pluralize "yesteryear" because the past just seems to blend together into one big crock of soup. But! If 2007 goes down as this Slurpee's first and only at-bat, I'll always remember it...not as a mere clump of "yesteryear," but as a solid, tangible, special point in time.
Don't know if I made much sense in that paragraph, but that's what happens when your brain and fingers are jittery with Slurpee excitement.
PS: I can't keep myself from photographically archiving the special times that I come upon a new Slurpee, but truth be told, 7-Eleven is just about my least favorite place to take pictures. Snapping photos in unusual places kinda comes with the territory of running a site like this, but doing it in a 7-Eleven always makes me nervous. Everyone stares. The customers think I'm on drugs, and the workers think I'm stealing things while on drugs.
Plus, it's not like I have a good cover story should someone ever decide to ask why I'm taking pictures. Honesty is the best policy in most walks, but definitely not when the truthful answer is, "OH THIS, THIS IS FOR MY BLOG, MY BLOG WHERE I REVIEW DRINKS." I usually pretend that I'm just randomly testing out the features on a "new" digital camera, but that doesn't explain why I'm doing it in a 7-Eleven, much less why I'm concentrating such photographical experiments solely on the Slurpee machine.
The Slurpee is excellent. It tastes just like the soda, to the point where I'm convinced that there isn't even any special syrup involved. Seriously, if you filled a cup with well-shaved ice and poured Cranberry Splash over it, I can't imagine it tasting any different.
My suggestion? Head on over to a 7-Eleven at night, grab a giant Cranberry Splash Slurpee, crank up the car heat and travel around the neighborhood to look at all of the decorated houses. It's fun to do this even without a holiday Slurpee, but when you actually have one? That shit's the difference between an activity and an event, son.
Darth Dew Slurpee! - X-Men Sunkist Slurpee! - Kwik-E-Mart Squishee!
Kryptonite Ice Slurpee! - Mountain Dew Pitch Black II ICEE!
Back in a bit. Meantime, there's this.
Posted by Matt on 11/29/2007. E-mail me!
Chestnuts roasted by 
I try, because things like that Slurpee look so good, but it burns! 
Woohoo, I get to post the first comment!
Matt, i’m envious. I live in an area bereft of 7-Elevens. I know, I know but such places really do exist.
Regular SM Cranberry Mist rocks! but the diet stuff tastes funny. Which is a real shame, because my mom is diabetic and last year she really got burned watching us down the Mist and raving about it.