Cold. If better words existed to describe the severity of the winter's hammer, they would present themselves, but they do not exist. Or if they do, they are simply too harsh and outlandish to consider in the wake of the tumultuous wave of snow, ice, and chapping winds. My youngest son's cheeks perpetually reddened. My oldest son's demeanor perpetually darkened by the short days.
All of this, and yet a sandwich shop appears in my humbly small, insignificant town. Inside a gas station, of course. What else would one expect? And speaking of expectations, I had none. None to speak of. I expected the same treatment from the side business of the pump station as I had from the days in January. Cold. Gray. Boring. Bland. Dull. Simplistic. Ultimately derived from some side corner of Hell. Alas, the sandwich shop situated neatly in our revitalized, rejuvenated, and renovated Casey's set out to surprise me.
I ordered, without enthusiasm, a turkey and cheese sub. First, the selection is broader than the most prominent of the chain sub shops with a wider selection of cheeses, including cheddar and Swiss, and a comparable selection of meats and veggies. I asked for the wheat bread, something I'm accustomed to and that my lovely wife enjoys, along with a honey mustard. I will admit there were pitfalls to this sandwich. The honey mustard was too watery and a little too sweet for my taste. The bread was a bit bland, though such is case in most mass-production sandwich shops. However, this sandwich had it's moments. The veggies were snap-fresh and the meat was tender and juicy. I've had sub experiences in chain stores with dry meats and cheeses that crumble in the mouth. No such case here. Color me impressed, which is a more exciting color than anything the winter has offered so far. The sandwich shop in the Casey's in Rossville is a nice addition, and a splash of vibrant life on the winter's white palate.
