Wednesday, May 27, 2009

My Unlikely Icon



When I visited Vegas for a wedding two weeks ago, I got a chance to meet my own, personal icon: the Coca Cola polar bear.

I was walking along the strip, looking for an attraction other than Casino bells and whistles, when I saw a giant, green glass bottle announcing the entrance to Coke World. I went inside to check out old billboards made into MP3 cases and notebooks, soda tabs transformed into pocketbooks. As I turned to leave, I saw a flash of unmistakable white fur. I gasped and grabbed my friend Rosary’s wrist. “That’s him! That’s the Coca Cola polar bear!!”

It was all I could do to keep from jumping up and down. When Rosary suggested I take a picture with him, I started in shock. It was more than I ever dared hope for. Taking a deep breath, I approached.
“Hi, Mr. Bear. I know you must get it all the time, but I just have to say you’re my favorite company mascot. I love your commercial work.”
He batted his big, brown mechanical eyes and I was a goner. We hugged for a picture, and the perfect gentleman among bears, he kissed my hand before we left.

Sadly, my bear and I haven’t had any contact since. But we’ll always have Vegas.

-Carly Okyle

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is awesome! i always fancied mr. clean myself

Anonymous said...

i think its creepy to find commercials crushworthy. cartoons on the other hand, i can get mad crushes on. like jessica rabbit what a hottie.

Anonymous said...

what about video game characters? I'd totally DO parasite eve