Here’s the letter I almost sent to the Seward County Independent last week:
There exists between Seward and Lincoln an uncomfortable difference that we often ignore in polite company. After all, sometimes when faced with a disturbing idea, it is easier to simply pretend that it doesn’t exist than to face it head on. I am writing, of course, about the Icee Gap.
Currently, the city of Lincoln enjoys a luxurious person to Icee machine ratio of approximately 2500 to 1. Not so in Seward. Just a few short years ago our own person to Icee ratio was a comfortable 2750 to 1, certainly nothing to sneeze at by any standard. But for the last few years we have been reduced, first to a miserly 6000 to 1 ratio, and within the last few weeks we are simple out of luck. Adrift with no recourse but to head East.
Those who live in Lincoln can purchase these tasty frozen confections at pizza parlors, gas stations, fast food restaurants, grocery stores and theaters. We here in Seward have none of these options and are the poorer for it.
I do not simply mean poorer in the gastronomic sense, though we are certainly that as well. We are poorer economically. I know that when I fill my tank up with gas once a week I should be doing it here in Seward. But I hear the siren song of the Icee and I can not help but open my wallet further to the East.
I will not name any names, but I can buy my groceries anywhere. Everyday low prices were nice, but I came for the Icee. I will happily buy elsewhere if another grocer were to take up the slack.
And we have many fine eating establishments in Seward, but a few years ago I found myself gravitating toward that restaurant where the difference was real. They still serve good food, but now I have one less reason to pick them out from the crowd.
This is an unprecedented opportunity for some merchant in Seward. You could own the only Icee* machine in an over 1890 square mile area (seriously, do the math). And, while you might not become rich from the sales of these frozen bits of heaven, you will put your business one notch higher on many people’s lists. And you will be at the top of mine.
Lloyd Sommerer
*While I have a preference for the Icee, I have no fight with those who prefer either the Slushie or the Slurpee, and would gladly enjoy either.
Luckily, I found out that the Casey’s South of Seward has a “Frozen Drink” machine with cola, blue & red flavors. We now stop there after the Wal*marts on Sunday. Don’t give me too much grief about the letter. This is only a first draft, and would have received more editing if this had been an actual Icee emergency.
Oh, and I’m not at all sure that I like Slurpees. I was just trying to build a frozen drink coalition.
I see why you mentioned Slushies and Slurpees, but I agree with you -- Icees are the best. Do you think the difference in texture is because of how the machines are designed, or do you think it’s a special ingredient?
I believe the machines themselves are different. Icee machines have a freeze and thaw cycle that sometimes means that I can’t have an Icee because the red light is on. I hate the red light.
Once we’re rich, Lloyd, I’ll buy you an Icee machine. Either that or we’ll live in a gas station. Your pick.
There’s that abandoned gas station across from the middle school…you could convert the old shop into your house (a tiny, tiny house), and stock it chock full of Icee machines.
It’s destiny.
Ha. It’s funny you mention that gas station. Years back, someone propositioned me about buying that station. If I owned it I would put a Icee machine in it.
If you aren’t rich enought to buy a machine, you could go work at a place that has one. Or work for Icee directly.
http://www.icee.com/Business/employment.asp
Can’t you buy an ice-crushing machine at one of the many auctions you attend? One of the school custodians around here rebuilt a broken one at school and now serves the best slushies to his grandkids and Joanna.
It’s not the same. The texture is different. You can get almost the right texture by freezing a cola and using a blender on it. But the freezing process also separates the soda into different layers of flavor/hardness. I don’t know how to fix that.
Picky-Picky. (By the way, that’s also the name of Ramona Quimby’s feline.)
I don’t think I care for Icees because it’s like having a mutant snowball. And I love snowballs! But I haven’t had any of the concoctions mentioned in your letter in FOREVER. So my opinion means nothing.
But I say send your letter! It’s great!
I love this letter! That would have been hilarious in print. 🙂 Glad you found your icy beverage!
Just some info I found on my lunch break.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Buying-A-Used-FCB-Slurpee-Slushy-Icee-Machine_W0QQugidZ10000000003821454
That was really interesting, and makes me think I’ll never have one of my own.