the hidden meaning in her vast collection of suck

I suppose I wasn't surprised when found out
my friend Carrie collects drinking straws
from every restaurant she visits.

She was telling me about the different weights
of plastic used, the ways it is accordioned,
striped, twisted, and tinted. She told me,
"Steve, you know, straws are like little stories --
What, I'm serious, don't look at me like that --
most people miss everything, because, wel...l
I don't know, I guess because
they're too busy with the end
to appreciate the journey."

She glanced over at the waitress station
where a bunch of straws were neatly kept
In a big silver tube, "Some restaurants
buy in bulk, just plain transparent straws.
You know, straws that show nothing
but the liquid going up."

I liked how her brow furrowed as she tried to explain
the importance of a wrapper - not to the collection
but to the meaning of the straw.

"One McDonalds straw," she says,
"is enough." When I asked about
Wendy's, she shook her head
and waved her hand at me as if
the question completely mis
understood the nature of a straw.

"California has different laws
regarding the distribution of straws -
so there is always a paper sleeve
around them," she shrugged, then
conspiratorially, "That's a lie
but everyone assumes that I know
because I have hundreds of straws
collected in dozens of states
and hundreds of restaurants."

When the waiter asked what we want
to drink, she said, "Water with lemon
and two straws please." She smiled
at me, "I like them virgin,
I think it adds something
to the collection - I'm not sure -
purity maybe?"