This evening at work I was dreaming about what I was going to eat next, which is very much at the forefront of my mind lately. I thought I’d love a hearty bowl of cereal.
I could only think of one cereal I wanted, and of course, it would be a challenge to find it.
I haven’t seen it in a grocery store for years so I was thrilled when after I Googled it, I noticed I can buy it by the case on Amazon. Production has not stopped.
I said out loud at my desk I was determined to get my hands on Product 19. My manager agreed that it’s one of the best cereals and she too hasn’t seen it for a while. Another coworker said that I could go to the Kellogg’s website to see where certain products are sold in the area. I immediately opened the site and found that Product 19 is available in two stores within 15 miles of my zip code. One is very close.
I left work and headed straight there.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it in the cereal aisle.
I asked a store manager what I should do and he got me a request card. He said to fill it out and hand it to cashier when I was checking out and they would order the cereal for me. Isn’t that fantastic?
Some lines on the request card needed special attention and I was unsure I was filling them out correctly. UPC number? Ummmm. Quantity? I don’t know if a year’s supply is enough. Product description? Most awesome cereal ever.
When I got in line to check out, I realized the cashier and the bagger were boys, each about 14 years old, so I had a feeling I’d have to have the same store manager come over again to help with my questions. I thought I’d give it a try with the cashier, however, before I panicked. Perhaps he was an old soul and knew about this incredible, robust, flaky breakfast dream.
“What is it called?” The cashier asked as he read what I had filled in on the card.
“It’s called Product 19. It’s a cereal.”
“That sounds healthy,” the bagger said.
“It is. It’s delicious. It has eleven essential vitamins and minerals. I want a whole lot of it.”
“Product 19!? Oh my gosh, it’s like Special K but WAY better!” An older female cashier in the next lane piped up.
We continued our conversation about it for a while, the four of us. My whippersnapper of a cashier continued checking my other items. Among some fruit and a box of cream cheese and green tea I had three more boxes of cereal. I felt I needed to say something about the obscene amount of cereal I was about to order on top of the few boxes coming down the rubber belt so I said, “Pregnant ladies love cereal.”
The young lad cashier looked at me and said, “Yeah, when my mom was pregnant, she said the same thing.”
That made me feel old.
I am consoled by the fact that in eight to 13 weeks I’ll have my Kellogg’s Product 19 to satisfy this early January craving.