Ode to a Drive-thru Gas Station

If you don't know this about me, Scott and I met at Southeast Missouri State University.  I transferred there from a small university in GA my sophomore year.  One of the things I miss about living in Southeast Missouri were the drive-thru windows at gas stations.  You could just pull up and order a soda, a 1/5th of whisky, cigarettes--whatever you wanted that a gas station provided (especially if it could kill you evidently). (I see the drinking and driving flaw in this system, but I still love it's convenience--not the drinking and driving convenience--sometimes it's hard to get your point clear here).  We're not talking about high class gas stations here or travel centers.  I'm talking about gas stations where sometimes they still smoke behind the counter (actually I don't know if any of them do this anymore since I haven't been to one in almost 9 years).  I love me some gas station fountain coke with cherry syrup.  For some reason no where else tastes like it.  As far as I know, the only places you can get a coke w/cherry syrup (not cherry coke) are the good ol' gas stations in SEMO, Wibs Drive-In (BBQ joint in Jackson, MO), Steak and Shake, and Sonic.  Here where I live only one of those places exists: Steak and Shake.  Somehow if I go to S&S I'll end up buying more than a soda.  This is why I'm feeling sentimental toward SEMO gas stations.  Sigh!  I miss Sarah Adams and our regular trips to Kidd's gas station, Burgers, Shakes, and Fries walk up restaurant across from the florist where we worked, Wib's (our favorite eatery) and anywhere else we knew we could get our fix.  This girl seriously needs some Sarah Adams and a coke with cherry syrup (don't you dare say cherry coke!). I think neither is likely.  But when I go to Advance (located in SEMO) in 2 weeks, I'm making it a point to stop at Wibs and go through a gas station drive through.  Now if only I could see Sarah it would be a trifecta.  Seriously though, it will be great b/c I'll get to see my grandparents.  I haven't seem them in almost a year. 

Last time I saw Sarah Adams: Nov. 2007
Last time I had Wibs: sometime in 2006 or 2005 probably (and this would have included the infamous soda).
Last time I had a drive through gas station coke with cherry syrup: maybe 7-8 years ago

If you live in southeast Missouri still (ahem..Ann) go and get yourself a drive through soda and some Wibs for me.