Dr. Pepper

Dr. Pepper is quite possibly the greatest beverage on earth.


Created by Charles Alderton of Waco, TX in 1885, Dr. Pepper has become a drink favored by many, consumed by the millions.


I don't remember exactly when I became so infatuated by the delicious 23 flavors of glory.  In fact, I remember a time in which I used to not like Dr. Pepper.  I thought it tasted too different than normal pop (read "coke" if you're from the south).  It was somewhere in high school that I consumed a Dr. Pepper and instantly fell in love.


The CEO himself couldn't quite describe the taste.  "I've always maintained you cannot tell anyone what Dr. Pepper tastes like because it's so different. It's not an apple, it's not an orange, it's not a strawberry, it's not a root beer, it's not even a cola. It's a different kind of drink with a unique taste all its own." - W.W Clements, former CEO

It was January of 2006.  Four young college students set off on an adventure that would change their lives forever.  Hitting 5 major U.S cities in less than a week seemed impossible.  Our ultimate destination was Waco, TX.  The birthplace of Dr. Pepper.  Our love and desire for this beverage had grown to a point where the only logical conclusion was to make a 1,200 mile trip to satisfy our need.  Grocery store Dr. Pepper would no longer do.  

Myself, Jim Gamble, Jeff Root and my brother John piled in my Grand Prix with just enough clothes and snacks to survive for only a few days.  We set off for Waco by way of Michigan City to stay the night with Jim's sister and brother-in-law to get an early departure the next day.  First stop, St. Louis.  It only seemed like the respectable thing to do.  After all, we were going west...sort of.  Why not pass through the "Gateway to the West" for its blessing on our trip.  So we saw the arch.  An architectural marvel.  

"Hey guys!  Turn around!"

After a long drive through Oklahoma, and a pit stop at a local Pizza Hut, we made it into Dallas.  We were relieved to find the hotel had a pool.  John was not-so relieved to find out the amount of hair on Jim's body.  We swam, we slept, we headed to the Dallas Zoo.  It was a wonderful way to calm our spirits before heading off to the Mecca of Dr. Pepper.  I remember one thing about that zoo.  They had bald eagles.  Not in a bird sanctuary where they could fly, but in an open air exhibit surrounded by a three foot fence.  Poor birds.  The proverbial face of America and its wings were clipped.

We pressed on.  On to Waco!  When we arrived in Waco our first thoughts were to find the bunker made famous by the violent shootings years earlier.  It doesn't exist.  Or so the locals told us.  The Dr. Pepper museum is a quaint little place.  One might even drive by it without notice unless looking for it.  We took the tour, stopped in the old parlor for Dr. Pepper floats (which by the way, root beer floats are terrible in comparison).  We then filled our car with cases of glass-bottled, cane-sugared Dr. Pepper.  When I say filled, I mean filled the trunk and loaded up the backseat as to still have just enough room for two passengers.  

Not to take away from the rest of the trip, the Dr. Pepper saga was over.  The car struggled along with extra weight of the glass bottles, but we made it home.  From that point, Dr. Pepper has become my drink.  It's a well-known fact that I love Dr. Pepper.  I'm not ashamed.  I love Dr. Pepper and its 23 flavors.  

I'd love to tell you the rest of the story about our road trip, but I need another Dr. Pepper.

The owner of the camera did not set the correct date.