Meadow Gold just distappeared!

Bill reported to me this morning that Sportsmen's Warehouse in Coeur d'Alene may have sold out to some Canadian owners, but the kettle-corn man gets to stay. It's always nice when new owners or new bosses appreciate the tried and true aspects of established situations they're entering.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is often a good guideline, especially for starting out. And, if people still know they can go to the front of Sportsmen's Warehouse to get their kettle corn fix, they're gonna be happy.

I haven't been so lucky, and I'm starting to wonder about another guideline of business practices: the customer is always right.

So far, in the past three years, I've struck out three times as a loyal customer. I'm getting almost as weary of having my favored products disappear from the shelves as I am talking about snow---by the way, only two trips to clean off the satellite dish so far this morning.

The latest casualty in my addiction losses occurred late last week.

I went to Yoke's to do some shopping but specifically to stock up on my most favorite ice cream ever---Meadow Gold French vanilla. Every time the flyers come out for the weekly specials, if Meadow Gold ice cream is on sale, I buy up several boxes of its French vanilla flavor.

Almost every evening for the past few years, I've sat on the couch during prime-time TV hour scooping up spoonfuls of Meadow Gold French vanilla. Sometimes the accessories include a fresh apple cobbler, a piece of Cyrus O'Leary pie or just a coating of Hershey's chocolate syrup. Sometimes, just a plain bowl of ice cream satisfies my daily need for the stuff.

I always microwave my ice cream for 20-25 seconds---much to Bill's dismay---to soften it up a bit. To me, a little softness to hard ice cream gives it an edge and puts me in a state of sheer delight.

Now before the chorus starts suggesting other brands of French vanilla, I've tried 'em all, and always come back to Meadow Gold. It suits my tastebuds and supremely so.

Well, after arriving at Yoke's last week, I picked up other supplies and then drove that cart straight to the ice cream display cases. At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. I stood back and surveyed the rows. Not one box Meadow Gold of any flavor! I drove my cart up and down the aisle, figuring they must've moved it to another case.

No dice.

With head hanging and pondering the situation, I went to the check stand. Figuring I'd better sound as diplomatic as possible, I told the checker, "First, I have a question; then, I may have a complaint."

"Okay," he said.

"Where is the Meadow Gold ice cream?" I asked.

"The head office canceled it," he told me. "They're not going to have it in any of the Yoke's stores anymore."

"Well," I said. "That really disappoints me. I always buy up boxes of the French vanilla. Guess I'll have to get it in Bonners Ferry." I really wasn't trying to make the checker feel bad, but somehow it felt like an effective protest to mention another grocery chain.

I had bought my Meadow Gold at the Boundary Trader, and I'd do it again---that very day.

It was Gonzaga night, and I had promised to bring the ice cream for the brownies Laurie was gonna bake. Upon leaving the store, I immediately called Bill, who had taken the afternoon off and had gone to the Moyie fishing.

"Get a bunch of boxes of Meadow Gold French vanilla on your way back," I told him. "Yoke's isn't stocking it anymore." He did. We enjoyed it on brownies, and I've been enjoying it every night this week, figuring trips to Bonners from now on will have to yield both Mennonite baked goods and Meadow Gold French vanilla.

Well, save that thought.

The Yoke's manager told me yesterday that he rather doubted I'd find the Meadow Gold brand in Bonners Ferry beyond this week cuz the supplier isn't supplying it anymore. Talk about a triple whammy, especially when I have but one box left in my freezer.

This has happened to three of my favored products now.

Coffee Mate mocha latte mix------GONE.
Bath and Beauty Works Cotton Blossom body lotion----GONE.

Now:
Meadow Gold French vanilla ice dream----going, going GONE.

It's hard to take when you really get addicted to stuff, which in all three cases, I was smitten with the products. I did ask the checker that day: do they ever consider the customer when they make these decisions? He just shrugged and said it was too bad.

I have been fortunate because of generous souls who know my loss. They've appreciated the withdrawal pains I've suffered and have thoughtfully sent me supplies they've found in clearance sales.

My friend Karen from Oregon sent me the remaining supply of mocha latte mixes from an Albertson's store. My daughter Annie recently found several bottles of cotton blossom lotion and a bonus bottle of bubble bath of the same flavor at another clearance sale in Seattle.

With my French vanilla, however, I may have to just go cold turkey.

Cuz, who's gonna send me several boxes of Meadow Gold French vanilla? I don't think even Fed Ex could get it here before it melts.

At least, Bill can go on smiling through life, knowing that the corporate execs are gonna let his kettle corn man stay put right there in front of Sportsmen's Warehouse.

Let's see, what other products do I really like?

Guess I'd better stock up before they disappear from the shelves.