I have been addicted to Diet Coke for years. If I was thirsty, the ONLY thing that would quench it was a nice tall Diet Coke with lots of ice. Yum! Though I prefer this beverage from a fast food restaurant (less carbonation), I also prefer drinking it out of a glass. I don’t know why glass makes it feel colder and taste better, but it does.

The last couple of years I have given up Diet Coke for Lent. The first few days are always so hard for me! It makes me feel as if I almost have an idea of what it is like to give up smoking. (Almost.) Partway through the 40+ days I usually start to feel better without it. Regardless, within a few days of Lent being over I am right back to drinking Diet Coke.

This season, I not only gave up DC, I also tried to limit all beverages with artificial sweeteners. I eliminated all pink packages from my hot tea and ended up drinking just a couple diet Arizona Peach Teas each week. (Not even one a day!)

So, Lent ended on Sunday, but I had no desire to drink a Coke until today. I was excited thinking about the nice cold beverage, lots of ice, the bubbles going down my throat! I poured the Coke over ice, took a nice big gulp and thought, “Huh.” I waited a couple of minutes to be sure the Coke was really cold and took a small sip. Still I thought, “Huh.” Where was the great taste? Where were the bubbles? Why do I drink this?

I didn’t even finish the entire glass. I tried, but I just couldn’t drink it. After dumping it out, I poured myself a tall cold glass of — water. It tasted great!

Two things I’ve been thinking:
1) If I have to get used to drinking it again, why am I bothering?
2) If water quenches my thirst, it will be a whole lot cheaper to drink water. I should save lots of money!

So, why have I been drinking Diet Coke?

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