When I bought a car a few years ago, the salesman was very excited to tell me the vehicle came with 8 cup holders. (He also was very excited about pretty much everything. “The men’s room is over THERE!” “Yes, I think it WILL rain tomorrow!” “Let me check with my MANAGER!” Being upbeat is a good thing if you’re in sales, but offering every comment cheerfully loud with a big smile isn’t always needed. “My grandma died YESTERDAY!”)
Anyway, the car carries four people comfortably, which works out to two cup holders per person. Do we really need that many beverages to drive from point A to point B?
Back in the olden days, cars came with zero cup holders, but they had a cigarette lighter and lots of ashtrays. I am not saying, of course, that smoking cigarettes while driving is preferred to sipping coffee or water. I’m just wondering when we as a society decided that we simply had to bring some liquid with us whenever we went on a journey of more than 50 feet.
Back in the olden days, cars came with zero cup holders, but they had a cigarette lighter and lots of ashtrays. I am not saying, of course, that smoking cigarettes while driving is preferred to sipping coffee or water. I’m just wondering when we as a society decided that we simply had to bring some liquid with us whenever we went on a journey of more than 50 feet.
There are popular items nowadays that did not exist a few decades ago, such as travel mugs, insulated water bottles, and Dunkin Donuts drive-thru coffee cups with plastic lids that occasionally stay on. And then there are the ubiquitous plastic water bottles made by Poland Springs, Dasani, and a hundred other companies. (By the way, the Environment says, “Thanks a lot, pal,” to the inventor of that consumer item.)
Years ago, people perked their own coffee at home and drank a cup at the kitchen table before heading off to work. As the classic song says, “Woke up. Fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head. Made my way downstairs and drank a cup. And looking up, I noticed I was late.” *
Once at work, there usually was another percolator in the break room for additional cups if necessary. It never occurred to anyone that they also needed to drink coffee on the ride to work. If you have no idea what a percolator is, look it up online. It’s a fascinating invention that sadly has been replaced by “drip” style devices and Keurig machines. (By the way, the Environment says, “Thanks a lot, pal,” to the inventor of the K-cup.)
Years ago, people perked their own coffee at home and drank a cup at the kitchen table before heading off to work. As the classic song says, “Woke up. Fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across my head. Made my way downstairs and drank a cup. And looking up, I noticed I was late.” *
Once at work, there usually was another percolator in the break room for additional cups if necessary. It never occurred to anyone that they also needed to drink coffee on the ride to work. If you have no idea what a percolator is, look it up online. It’s a fascinating invention that sadly has been replaced by “drip” style devices and Keurig machines. (By the way, the Environment says, “Thanks a lot, pal,” to the inventor of the K-cup.)
When I was a kid, I remember only two methods of bringing liquid with you. The first was the canteen, popular with Boy Scouts and guys who had been in the Army. The canteen was an uninsulated metal container that you filled with cold water in the morning, and if there was any water left in it by 3 p.m., it was as warm as soup.
The other item was the Thermos bottle, which was sold with metal lunch boxes, the kind preferred by construction workers. The Thermos bottle was insulated, so at 3 p.m. coffee still would be somewhat warm, or water still somewhat cold. However, the Thermos bottle was insulated using glass, and the first time you dropped it, you’d hear a crunching and tinkling sound, which meant it now was useless — unless you enjoyed your coffee with cream, sugar, and shards.
The other item was the Thermos bottle, which was sold with metal lunch boxes, the kind preferred by construction workers. The Thermos bottle was insulated, so at 3 p.m. coffee still would be somewhat warm, or water still somewhat cold. However, the Thermos bottle was insulated using glass, and the first time you dropped it, you’d hear a crunching and tinkling sound, which meant it now was useless — unless you enjoyed your coffee with cream, sugar, and shards.
I fully understand that it’s a good thing to stay hydrated. But do we really need to bring along something to drink for each and every nine-minute car ride? Did our parents and grandparents become faint and drive off the road years ago because there were no cup holders? No, they stayed alert because they were filled with nicotine.
The car salesman said to me, “If eight cup holders are not enough, we can order a few MORE! Or how about some ASHTRAYS?!”
* Bonus points if you can name this song.
The car salesman said to me, “If eight cup holders are not enough, we can order a few MORE! Or how about some ASHTRAYS?!”
* Bonus points if you can name this song.
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