there was (is?) a chain of all you can eat pizza places (CiCi’s), like you pay a single price, get a plate, and then make as many trips as you want to the buffet for however much mediocre pizza and breadsticks you want.

there was also a sad little salad bar there which had buckets of chilled dressing, including ranch.

the “move” was to load up on slices and get a glob of that ranch on your plate for your breadsticks and crusts.

I’m sure you can imagine how amazing and full of self-respect one felt after deciding they had consumed all that was possible to eat and emerging from the building to go home.

that feeling is the magic of America.