post card photo by Ron Ruhoff @2001

Originally uploaded by ein feisty Berg.

This afternoon at 2:00 P.M. the new Sonic will open in town. Andrea will work there until she leaves for college in the fall. When we moved “up” to the mountains six years ago this giant hot dog was the only “fast food” spot in town (with the exception of the Safeway deli and a Subway tucked in next door). I use the word “fast” endearingly. It was not unusual to wait in line for 30 minutes, nor for the line to stretch and snake into the parking lot. In the past two years our community has seen the departure of this hot dog and the arrival of: King Soopers, A Lifestyle Safeway, Wendy’s, Quiznos, 2 Starbucks (one in each supermarket), the aforementioned Sonic , Qdoba; and, in the next two weeks, Chili’s and Baskin Robbins.
The giant hotdog which had been a landmark for giving directions, now resides 30 minutes further up the mountan.  There are times I long to move 30 minutes more into the mountains and times I long for the city.  The highway that runs through town now boasts two lanes each way and a number of overpasses (to get to the new Safeway). Our habits have changed.  I often stop at the grocery on the way home and we have once again fallen into the habit of fast food, midnight snacks and cozy mom and kid dates to the coffee shops.