RED

Sometimes in life, something so great happens, that you feel as if all of the stars are aligned just for you. This is the sensation I had yesterday at the grocery store. I headed to the grocery after work to pick up some chicken, a roll and oranges; I quickly got my items and started scanning for the shortest line. I ended up having to go to the line the farthest away, but while the last few items of the customer in front of me were being scanned, I took in my surroundings. And what an incredible site I saw.

“When did we get a red box?” I loudly exclaimed with ecstasy.

The cashier nonchalantly replied, “It has been here for a week.”

Thus ensued a conversation with the bagger, cashier, fellow customer and myself about how beautiful a thing the red box is. Since you might not have been introduced to this gem, let me acquaint you.

Red Box is a DVD rental vending machine. It makes me remember back to the days when Red Owl had a video vending machine, back when the Red Owl was pretty much the only thing Hartland had. I first was introduced to Red (my pet name for her) in Portland while visiting my sister. The concept is brilliant. This lovely little red box has 200 different movies in her. You go to her screen, pick a movie, scan your credit card, and you have a date with a new (or older) release until 9 P.M. the next night. And let me tell you, she is a cheap date at only $1. But, it gets better. Let’s say you really want a certain movie, you just go online, and reserve it at your respective Red and it’s waiting for you.

Now I am sure that some of you soothsayers are trumpeting the drawbacks and hidden pitfalls. Let me assuage your fears. Fear #1: Late fees – There are none, if you keep it another night, you just get charged another dollar. No worries, you have paid more to rent a DVD than $2 before. Fear #2: You don’t watch the movie, and your money is wasted – Let us be realistic, you have thrown away a dollar for less. Fear #3: It is inconvenient – Not for me, I just take a 1 minute jaunt to the grocery store; however, where my sister lives, Red gets around and hangs out at every McDonalds. Plus, you don’t have to return the movie to the same Red. Fear #4: This is an attempt at world domination - Okay, possibly, but the movies are only a dollar! Fears #5, #6, & #7 – Give me a break, you know this is wonderful. I went to the website today and got a free rental.

I glided out of the grocery and within minutes had alerted both my mother and sister to the joyous news. As I drove home, I knew that at least for this moment, all was well.