Soda and Sobriety
Angela Westbrook lives in Metairie, La. On June 24, 1991, Westbrook realized she was an alcoholic, and she stopped drinking. Her sobriety was put to the test four months later when her young son became severely ill. He was hospitalized and she feared for his life. She also feared that this would cause her to start drinking again.

She went to the hospital cafeteria, and there, she bought a Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi. And another. And another. Westbrook kept drinking Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi while her son was in the hospital - she says it kept her from drinking alcohol. And she continued to drink it - a lot of it - for the next two years. Now, 16 sober years later, she credits Caffeine-Free Diet Pepsi with keeping her on the wagon.

(11/17/2007)

Life-Changing Purchase: Four Wigs
The Caskettes, a Minnesota singing group, is comprised of four sisters -- Babs, Delna, Mimi, and CindyLee (their stage names). They first got a taste of the spotlight when they performed about ten years ago at their grandmother's funeral (she had a riotous sense of humor and would've gotten a kick out of it, says CindyLee). Now they get together and perform whenever and wherever they can -- birthday parties, piano bars, family talent shows. The Caskettes have always dressed to the nines (think feathers, sequins), but this year, they upped their glamour ante when Delna got sick. In particular they bought wigs, so that the effects of radiation and chemo couldn't be seen. The singing and laughter have been cathartic for all of the women, and besides, you look a lot less ill in a wig and go go boots.(11/10/2007)

Winning the Lottery Didn't Change His Life
As part of our coverage of the consumer economy, we're asking listeners what single purchase changed their lives. In Florida, Pete had started a new job. One day, a colleague asked him if he wanted to join the office pool to buy a lottery ticket. He said yes, and they won $14 million dollars. Pete tells us his story of a truly life-changing purchase. (11/03/2007)

Buy a Gun, Get Inner Peace for Free
The first firearm Eric bought was a Ruger MK II pistol. It changed his life. According to Eric, owning the gun has made him think long and hard about the responsibility. And believe it or not, owning a firearm has brought calm to his life. Shooting at the range helps him take a step back from his hectic life and breathe deeply -- it's almost Zen. (10/27/2007)

Life-Changing House
Seven years ago, Karen Tips of Winston-Salem, N.C., bought a house for herself and her daughter Katie Rose. Prior to that, they'd been living in a worn-down shack, a life made all the more difficult by the fact that Katie Rose has cerebral palsy. It turned out that the new house changed their life completely. We'll hear their story. (10/20/2007)