Dear Soda, or Pop (depending on where you're from),

I'm writing you a letter of appreciation because you've given me more gifts then I can count thus far. From being a key part of what makes me unique to the memories you've enhanced with friends and family, I can never fully express my gratitude.

Whoever knows me well enough knows I can't live without you. They expect me to ask, "what kind of sodas do you have" at every restaurant, and always laugh when I tell them "the only doctor I need is Dr. P (Dr. Pepper)". Some might call it an obsession, and that's fine with me, but our history is so sweet that I'll make up for your excess sugars in other parts of my life.

My fondest memory of you was pouring the regional goodness of Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer into a glass packed with vanilla bean ice cream when I slept over my grandparents' house. For some reason, red homemade root beer floats were all the rage for my taste buds. I knew what ensued after your consumption were nights filled with family and laughter, two pieces of life you can never feel full from.

Next were the countless summers in middle school where my friends and I would ride our bikes around town all day long. We would stop at each other's houses and eat pizza for lunch at whoever's homemade slices moved to River Road in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Countless cans of soda were sipped while my friends and I didn't have a care in the world, and I never knew how much I'd miss that as my everyday agenda until today.

I remember my older brother, mom, and stepdad mixing flavors and creating our own concoctions using the latest system in your industry…the "SodaStream".

Whether it was picking out my favorite flavors at the supermarket for my dad's killer St. Patrick's Day parties or receiving Coca-Cola Vanilla (one of my favorites) with a bow on it for my birthday, soda has partaken in some of my happiest memories to this point in time.

Let's settle a few things though, original Pepsi is better then original Coca-Cola. Cheerwine is not available at nearly enough stores and restaurants. Boylan's Cream Soda is practically a desert. If you order from Taco Bell, your drink better be Mountain Dew Baja Blast. Finally, and most importantly, shaking the fizz out of you should be a crime, not a prank.

I'm sure my life has plenty more can pops, plastic cap snaps, and accidental foam overfills. However, I wanted to express my love for you as a product as soon as possible because I finally had the time to reflect on your greatness.

Keep making life as bubbly as possible.

Sincerely,

Colin Romaglia