I wish I knew how to reach him.

It's not like we bonded or anything. But we did share a moment.

It was last year, much closer to the holidays.

The two of us were in a grocery store, staring at the void that once had been filled with cartons of egg nog.

One of us asked a store clerk if there was any more in the back. The clerk shook his head "No."

This wasn't the first store we had been to. This, as I recall, was strike three.

Even the brands that might as well be labeled "Dregs" were sold out.

Nothing more was said before we parted. But I have a feeling that guy silently joined me in a pledge.

"I will not be denied egg nog again."

So when I was in a grocery store just a bit ago, I noticed egg nog in a refrigerator case. Lots of egg nog.

Of course. It's only Nov 6.

But I wanted to phone that guy who had looked into the abyss with me last year.

"Hey,'' I'd say. "Egg nog's in stock. The good stuff. Let's buy a cartload and freeze it."

I suspect, though, he already has a plan.

Do you?

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