"Barrels"

It's almost as if it were yesterday. My best friends and I, without a care in the world, would come home from middle and high school and put on our rollerblades. It worked out well because of group of five or six friends (plus some recruits) grew up in the same neighborhood. Either on my driveway or along Wintergreen Lane, we would have intense, hilarious games of rollerhockey until we couldn't see the ball in the dark. And these games did get intense. How did we make it through them? Water? Sometimes. But primarily, we drank barrels.

I will continue this blog when I get back from an errand.

20 minutes later.

It was the same during whiffle ball. We drank barrels. I have vivid memories of actually making an afternoon out of drinking barrels. We would fill up a cooler with ice and barrels and just relax in the backyard. Now, for those wondering what a barrel is, think Teenie.

They are those small, barrel shaped beverages that are packaged 24 per box. The flavors are orange (better than orange Gatorade), blue (better than blue Gatorade), red (good, but resembles childhood red medicine) and purple (still good), in that order (orange is my preferred color for most candy and drink flavors). They are called Teenies, and I am sure most people have heard and tried them.

I hadn't had one in at least a few years. Occasionally when home from college, I would make a request when my mom asked me if I wanted anything from the food store. But every time, she struck out. She even told me she asked the manager once (I get special food treatment when I am home from college), and he said that Market Basket no longer carried Teenies. Life goes on, until this year.

After I stopped eating subs for every meal first semester, I began making trips to Stop and Shop down the street. Recently, when browsing through the drink isle (Aisle One), I caught sight of three boxes of teenies. I bought two. When I walked into my apartment, I was told by my roommates that Teenies were mere water mixed with sugar. I taste much more than that, although the sentimentality may have adjusted my taste buds.

I still have a few Teenies left in my fridge, but I wanted to get more because those same best friends are in town this weekend. Not more than 10 minutes ago, I walked down Aisle One, but this time under the "Teenies 24 Count" label, there was just an empty space. Someone else seems to have noticed the childhood treasure. The good thing is that the label is indeed still there, and there will be more "barrels" soon enough.

So for those craving a good drink and some childhood memories, Stop and Shop at 1620 Tremont Street has the goods in Aisle One. Just not today.

And for those still unaware of what these drinks are, I will upload a picture of one as soon as another shipment comes in. For now, another orange barrel.