It’s been a while.

It’s been more than a while.

Too long.

Not days.

No – it’s been weeks.

WEEKS.

You see, I fell for their game.

DANG IT !!!!

They got me.

They reeled me in and then …

BAMM!!!!

They got me.

Oh – and I’ve looked.

I’ve looked everywhere.

EVERYWHERE !!!

But they’re gone.

Wait – look in the pantry.

NOPE – not there.

Cabinet – Nope, not there.

NO, not that cabinet, the other cabinet.

Oh – okay, give me a sec.

DANG IT!!!  Not there either.

It’s impossible.

They are simply gone.

WEEKS.

I thought I was good.

Nope.

I thought, I got this.

Far from it.

I thought, get something else.

Something just as good.

NOPE – not a chance.

Accept no substitute.

It doesn’t work that way.

And they know it.

YUP – they know it.

Do they think this is a game?

See, they bring you in with their big grins.

Big grins and their catchy signs.

And then they have you.

And I fell for it.

YES INDEED.

HARD.

Fell for it hard.

Gone was my $5 bill.

Then it was $10.

Nope – not enough.

Okay – a $20.

Sure.  A $20.

That will do it.

A $20 will hold me.

Sadly – it did not.

Nope.

A $20 did not hold me.

Enough with their big smiles.

Enough with their catchy signs.

It’s basically crack.

It’s crack in disguise.

Packaging might say differently.

But make no mistake – it’s crack.

They get you and then ……

And then they cut you off.

It’s cruel.

It’s downright cruel.

They know you want it.

They know you’re out there looking for it.

But they aren’t there.

Wal-Mart – NOPE.

Grocery stores – NOPE.

Even your own trusted dealer ….

Surely she saved some for you.

OH HELL NO !!!

You think they are in on it?

OF COURSE THEY ARE !!!

No Lemon-Ups for weeks now.

WEEKS.

I am tempted to write a strongly worded letter.

• Ramblings