Diet Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda Shortage Confirmed

As you surely know, I've been on an increasingly desperate hunt for a replenishment of the not-long-ago introduced greatest libation ever conceived by mankind, aka Diet Dr. Pepper & Cream Soda, to no avail. I have scoured every grocery store, driven far and wide, chased down every lead, and still I have none to show for it. This was my last can, savored yesterday at lunch:

I twitted that to Dr. Pepper, with the open question of whether it was to be last one ever. And funny enough, though it wasn't in direct response, THEY twitted THIS yesterday to the masses:

We know it’s harder to find Dr Pepper these days. We’re working on it – hang tight!

Note: This applies to all flavors of Dr Pepper – including our newest permanent addition to the family, Dr Pepper & Cream Soda. pic.twitter.com/Kf0UedMuiw

— Dr Pepper (@drpepper) August 10, 2020

So perhaps all is not lost. In the meantime I'm trying to figure out how to make due until more of my sweet, sweet DDP&CS turns up. Today I tried concocting my own substitute using these:

It ... was not the same. But look, I'm scrambling here, OK? I don't know what else to do. I just hope and pray the real stuff returns. Soon. If not, I really may go off the deep end, folks. 

Yeah, I know, let's just pretend that ship hasn't already sailed.