That's what I was asked by Tim, a bearded gentleman driving a white car. Coming just a few minutes after a nice fellow in a truck handed me a hamburger, it felt like the appropriate thing to drink. Then I realized: he called it a soda! After more than 1000 consecutive miles in steadfast "pop" territory, I've started hearing "soda" again (though not exclusively) in the past few days.
Also, and I'd have to check my notes to verify this, I believe that every time someone has offered me a soft drink on the road (it's happened a handful of times), it's been a Pepsi.
Day 89
“Would you like a cold soda?”
June 23rd, 2010
Ah, the Geography of Soda Can’s across the U.S. I always thought this was a fascinating subject :) I’m thirsty!
A brave man once requested me to answer questions that are key. Is it to be or not to be? And I replied: Oh, why ask me, René?
Yeah! PEPSI! I’ve found that in most of the trash cans that I dig thru. Most of the time when I find Aluminum cans it’s Keystone for alcohol, Arizona Tea cans (various types) for alternative beverages, and Pepsi for carbonated non-alcoholic drinks. SUICDIAL DRINKING!! ALL I WANTED WAS A PESPI!
All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, and she wouldn’t give it to me! Just a Pepsi!
Good ole red white and blue…you can’t get more American than that…Pepsi, the drink of the new generation. I sound like a commercial Haha
Enjoy a Ice Cold Pepsi, nothing better except a throw back Pepsi made with sugar.
Amen and a great big D I T T O !
Pepsi rocks, but that is debated worldwide. What is the most powerful moment from this read is the generosity of the people you passed. I wonder was it with or without conversation that provoked the gifts of food and beverage. Probably none. God Bless all the people. Matt was well supplied with food and now from kindness of others…..it will last longer. When I was hungry you gave me to eat…….
“…I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,…” – Matt. 25:34-36
We are seeing mankind at it’s very best with Matt; these people will be blessed for blessing a stranger.
Awesome insights, Jeff and Barb. And don’t forget Daisy. The “be fruitful, multiply” blessing belongs to the animals equally. What a companion!
Now about those Pepsi’s…here in Atlanta, everything is a Coke, regardless of brand or flavor. So Fanta Orange, even, might be a “Coke”. If you offer a soda, it’s a bicarbonate of soda, and if you offer a pop, it’s either your daddy, or a slap in the face, but never a soft drink.
:-)
Might I add that the simplicity of this photo is really masterful. The story Barb and Jeff relay is perfectly conveyed by it. God did good stuff when He made us, even if He did say so Himself.
Texas too….it’s always “you wanna coke? what kind?” heehee. I love the photo too, even though I’m a coke gal. I love the contradiction of the smooth can and the bumpy pepples. Really cool refelction too.
You mean you’re not suppose to do it this way? I get upset when I ask for a “coke” and people don’t ask “what kind”! LOL
Then again, when I ask for a Kleenex, people don’t say what kind so… who knows! LOL
It use to get me in big trouble when I traveled with my job. People didn’t like it if you asked for “pop” and it was “soda” or whatever. It fascinated me.
“we are seeing mankind” it is true. I’ve said before..no matter what your religion – the experience I am seeing is exactly what a “god” would ask. Peace, Kindness, Generosity and To Share of ones abundance.
Imagine if we could just live by a few simple rules. Brothers and Sisters we are one. Through matt’s walking..it is easy to see.
… what no Diet? What kinda barbarians are these North Dakotians?
love Pepsi…today’s headline story…Superman’s walk across America…I thought they were talking about Matt…no luck
I think Matt should get kickbacks for DC using Matt’s story
Oh my gosh, I thought the exact same thing when I saw the Superman headline!!! I absolutely love this blog. I’ve been following your trip since I saw it come up on Yahoo and I don’t miss a day! It’s very uplifting (especially since I’m trapped in a beige cubicle all day, lol). Good luck and stay safe!!!
it’ll be back to ‘pop’ again when you reach montana :)
Wisconsin is generally “Soda” land. At least the people that work with our sister company in Madison WI.
Is this a trick question?
k
I have been touched by the kindness that has been offered to you my complete strangers. Bravo Middle America!
He must have been a Southerner. We never say “pop” in North Carolina where Pepsi was born at Caleb Bradham’s pharmacy in New Bern in 1893. We call it either soda or Pepsi.
Now, Brother. Don’t you remember that in our childhood days, “coke” was the generic term for a soft drink?
Yes, sweet sister. You are correct!
My kingdom for a Coke
Your Kingdom for a Coke?
Will that be a Coke-a-Cola or a Pepsi? – LOL
(that’s what we say in Okla – most of us, that is…)
Stay strong, Matt – God bless you & your journey.
Where I come from (Texas) it is called coke no matter the brand/type. I really enjoy following you on your journey and wish that someday I will get the chance to do something like this. I have always believed in the old saying “reach out and touch somebody” and I think you are seeing lots of people who do as well. It is really uplifting to see that there are still a lot of truly wonderful people in our world today. Keep on truckin’ and get ‘er done!
P.S.
Dr. Pepper is the best coke/soda/pop ever!!!!
Agreed on the Dr. Pepper! It’s so weird to me (I’m from MT) when I visit my parents in South Dakota, and I ask for a Coke at the little local diner, they ask what kind of coke. They say “coke” like we say soda or pop. If you want a 7-Up, that’s still a coke to them. I thought they were the only ones!
A few weeks back you mentioned that most of the road side cans were M.Dew, do they they keep the pepsi cans and litter with dew cans?
According to a map I found (people actually map this stuff?), it’s pop all the way to oregon, other than a few soda counties here and there.
http://mappery.com/map-of/Pop-vs-Soda-US-Map
Reading the blog is the bright spot in my day! In eastern KY it’s “pop”, so we must differentiate which drink being requested. Now, I’m a Diet Coke fan myself.
So many random acts of kindness since you started your walk, Matt. Godspeed and keep the pics coming!
This was my childhood cola!
When I went to college in central NY, I was from the south, NYC, soda, and the upstaters Buffalonians were pops, same state go figure. I was in the middle as I was for the SuperBowl that year.
Wisconsin is indeed ‘soda’ land. Have you heard it called “soda-pop” anywhere? sometimes you’ll hear that, which is even more goofy.
The older people say soda pop here, like my grandma & her sisters, cousins form the south say coke even when referring to sprite, & other non cola drinks (Kansas City)
Older folks in Oklahoma say soda pop too! We usually say “coke” or “pop” and when I lived in Nashville for 3 years in the late 90’s they said “cold drink” which I thought was really weird because to me a “cold drink” is anything with ice
Good Ole’ NJ! Soda… However, I always make sure I tell them it’s PEPSI! I have loved Pepsi since I was young.
I would laugh @ my cousins when they said “pop!” cause it souned funny. But it is interesting to hear about the different ways people see N say things.
BigUp’s Matt. Ever since they ran your story on Yahoo,I have been keeping up. May G-d bless ll who have extended themselves to you and treated you the way the scripture said
“I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,…” – Matt. 25:34-36
There are still GREAT people in America! Journey on my friend!
They say pop here, I say soda just to be different, (Kansas City). Also I don’t like Pepsi or Coke.
I love it how it goes between being called a soda and a pop. Pepsi is the best pop out there, or should I say best soda out there.
James & Marty have it right. Here in Wisconsin, it’s always been called “soda”…or at least it has been for the 29 years I’ve been on this Earth and in this state.
I believe Coke had an advertising campaign — “A Coke and a Smile” during the late 70s — I remember handing a toll both operator one during that time and they did Smile :)
In Kentucky we call it pop, soda, soda pop, and even “coke” which can be used in reference to any brand. We are a complex state. :)