I don’t pay much attention to buildings that offer the
opportunity to buy hard liquor in bulk. The last time I was in such a store was
while Riley was in hospice at the nursing home. That would be more than a year
ago. I wanted to buy a small bottle of tequila because I was in a highly unusual
mood for a Margarita. I was disappointed that the main ingredient for my
desired cocktail was so expensive, but I bought it anyway and haven’t been back
since. When you only drink every three or four months, even a small bottle has
a tendency to last a while.
In North Carolina, the liquor stores are all state
government alcohol control board operated. They are aptly name “ABC” stores. In
my mind that seems like a childish name for such an adult product. But that’s
off the track a bit.
I was driving down the main road in our town which has only
two ABC stores. There is one as you enter the beach area and another just about
midway down. Both stores are on the same main access road which runs the entire
length of the Outer Banks. The one store I frequented when Riley was drinking
was the one about midway. It is flanked on one side by a CVS store and a major
grocery store. Across the street are numerous fast food restaurants. It is a
busy, bustling corner.
I was going to the grocery store and when I turned at the
appropriate street, I noticed that there was no longer an ABC store on the
corner. It was gone. Like there one day and gone the next. But, even more than
that there was no sight of there ever having been a store of any kind in that
location. The building had been replaced with an empty lot.
What the heck??? Was there now only ONE ABC store on the
island? My first thoughts were what are all those alcoholics going to do if
they only have one store to get their precious liquids? This area has the privilege
of have a large percentage of “drinkers”. ABC stores close on Saturday evening and do
not re-open until Monday morning. An image when through my head of drinkers who
needed to have their supply replenished before the store closed and who had
waited until the last minute to complete that chore. The image goes something
like this using myself as the alcoholic/drinker in need:
I drive to my usual
ABC store and see that I’m the only car in the parking lot. I think how lucky I
am to get such prime parking. The inside of the store looks dark, but maybe it’s
because I’m getting here so late. When I reach the end of the walkway ramp, I find
the front door to be locked. I check my watch. No shouldn’t be closed because
it’s about 10 minutes before closing time. I step back and look at the building
quizzically. OH! Wait! There’s a sign…
This store will be permanently
closed as of (whatever day is the day before today). We will re-open at our new
location in the Surfside Shopping Center at our normal opening time.
Oh my goodness!! I don’t
even know where the Surfside Shopping Center is! Do I have enough time to get
there? I grab my cell phone and call a friend to find out if she knows where
the new store is. She tells me it is right next to the Stamp Store. OK. I know
where that is, but I don’t know if I will make it in time.
I put my car in gear
and head to the Stamp Store. I run every red light and weave in and out of the
traffic. Panic is setting in as I realize I may not have enough time. Then I
see the sign over the window front “ABC” Beverage Store. I park right in front
and push open the door as the manager heads towards me to lock out anyone behind
me.
Phew!! I made it! That
was a really close call. I must never wait until the last minute again.
I’m so happy I am not a person who must have a stash of
alcohol available every single day. I have been blessed to not have that
penchant or gene or whatever it is. On the other hand, I know the business
hours of every single Starbucks and Coffee House on the island. I would probably
die from withdrawal if I had to survive an entire weekend with my java.
To each his own poison...