Cogo’s

After being brutalized by the visuals of vacant small towns and deteriorating wood framed houses punctuated by strip malls along rt 30, my friends and I had enough and needed to get on the Turnpike. I thought I was just entering your average gas station when I stopped here to pick up a drink but the owner of this place is no average guy.
In the 10 minutes I was there, he greeted every customer with genuine enthusiasm, adding little anecdotes as he rang them up, cracking jokes and always smiling. Each transaction was an interaction with a fully engaged person who clearly enjoyed what he was doing. Sure, the conversations (along with the fact that he needed a magnifying glass to see the prices) slowed things down but it was well worth the time in terms of spiritual refreshment.
This spot put me and my friends in a great mood to enjoy the rest of our trip. I may even make it a point to jump off the Turnpike and stop here again next time I’m traveling across the state.