Drugstore Junkie

If society as we know it were annihalated today, perhaps covered Pompeii style by a nonexistant volcano, what would future generations learn about us? Well, certainly our fascination with cell phones would be discovered -- everyone and - literally- their grandmother has one. But this I can understand. We need to communicate.... there are important questions that must be answered before we reach a landline, such as:

"Was that cream AND sugar in your coffee, Joan, or just sugar?" OR
"You will not believe the asshole that just cut me off on the highway. I'm lucky to be alive. Can you believe it?!?" OR
"Hon, what is the name of this song on the radio RIGHT NOW? Yeah, can you hear it? Let me turn it up!"

But what I cannot fathom, and what future generations will examine, desperately trying to understand, is this:

Is it really necessary to have 3 different drugstores within 1/2 mile? I mean, is there such a variety of merchandise offered by CVS, Brooks, Eckerd's, Walgreen's (you get the idea, here) that we have to have ALL OF THEM in a 3 block radius? And what does it say for the American love of the drugstore, where they specialize not only in prescription drugs, qtips and bandages, but also in hair color, diapers and gatorade. As I ran into the store the other day I realized one could even say that carry everything from soup to nuts... literally! You can pick up frozen dinners, stationery and Depends, all in one spot.
I'll admit it. I, too, am a drugstore junkie. There are so many possibilities there. Develop your pictures in an hour; pick up cheaper spices than you can find in the grocery store; examine each box of hair color for your new 'do. Choose a cold drink from refrigerated cases that line an entire wall. 6 different kinds of energy drinks... AND get that box of tampons you need. I find myself wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles searching for another item I just have to have.
Maybe future generations will see the remains of all the drugstores and decide that batteries and gum really DO belong side by side; that 72 brands of toothpaste offer a wonderful variety; and that one drugstore just doesn't offer us enough opportunity to spend our hard earned money.
Peace.