my friend stayed with me last week for a couple of days because he’s considering finishing his degree at the university of minnesota duluth. he toured the school, which is just up the hill from where i live, and i went along just for fun. at the end, i stopped to buy a bottle of diet coke, and the woman at the register told me, “if you buy two, you get one of these hats today.” i hesitated, but she could see the wanting look on my face. “i just saw your eyes light up,” she said. “go get another diet coke. i’ll hold your place in line.”