When my sister announced she was planning to take a road trip to a convenience store, I laughed. Not that I doubted her motivation, but because the convenience store was a Texan chain, which I never visited the entire 14 years I’d lived in Austin.
So here was my chance. Not that it was on my bucket list even though I’d lived a shorter drive from the location that boasts of being the largest convenience store in the world since everything’s bigger in Texas.
I’d not known that this convenience store had a slew of the cleanest bathrooms, far more gas pumps than a typical gas station and the largest collection of souvenirs outside of an amusement park.
My sister is like Mom…loves to shop. I’ve been downsizing for years, but I still eat. All my purchases were edible. I practically inhaled my chopped brisket sandwich, which I washed down with the cheapest bottle of water available. (Next time I will bring my own since there is no dining area and one has to either eat in the car or take it back home.) I’d also bought two flavors of beef jerky and two bags of the most popular branded sugary snack. I figured if it was that good, I’d want another bag or give it away. Besides, I knew that nothing would beat the box of assorted fudge I bought.
I was correct on all counts!
Next time I visit, I’m going to stick with the brisket sandwich, sliced brisket next time, and the assorted fudge. All the rest was OK, but those two were the most impressive. The jerky was a good addition in a ramen bowl I made days later, but not a necessary addition.
Although my sister was down to return to the touristy convenience store the following weekend, I suggested that we do something else. After all, her 60th birthday was the following weekend. I can think of all types of things to do rather than that.