The nostalgia that returns as I read this phrase!
I’m curious what sort of nostalgia, “the iconic lemonade stand” brings up for you…
What do you see?
Does it conjure up visions of the old county fair and fresh squeezed lemonade?
Maybe a day at the local community center pool eating ice cream?
Someone very close to me, recently shared that this phrase made them think of going to the local flea market. Their Father would buy snow cones for her and her siblings to cool off during the warmer months.
For me, it brings back childhood memories of hot, humid summer days, home from school, hanging with friends, searching for things to do. Suddenly someone shouts, “let’s make lemonade and cookies and sell them on the bike path and then we can go by candy at Linda’s!”
“Linda’s” was the cute little market at the bottom of the “big hill”, in Waterford, Virginia, that still operates to this day.
We’d scurry to make our goods, fast and furious, thinking of how much candy we could buy.
This phrase also makes me think about my childhood dreams. As we stood out there, shouting and slinging our goods, in between sales, we’d talk about our dreams—what we wanted to be when we grew up. How much money we planned on making as grownups and what we’d spend it on.
I wanted to be a famous singer. I idolized Whitney Houston and Cyndi Lauper. I used to crimp my hair, cake on that 80’s blue eye shadow, sing at the top of my lungs and dance on my bed. I’d dream of being on stage in live concert, their music blasting through the old boom box in my room.
Sunny and I passed by one of these iconic lemonade stands the other night, as we enjoyed one of our regular evening walks in the park.
While we gazed from afar, I could see that it was not the typical lemonade-and-baked goods stand. While these stands may have had to change a bit these days, the concept is still the same—make something, go out and try to earn some money, learning life lessons while you do it.
The kids took turns holding their homemade sign and were enthusiastically trying to wave in customers. I smiled and wondered what they each wanted to be when they grew up.
I think I’m going to use this phrase when hosting my next dinner with family and friends. I’m smiling just thinking about all the fun stories that will be shared when asked, “What do you think about when you hear the phrase, “the iconic lemonade stand?”
Think about how much you’ll earn about your family and friends and the joyous energy that will fill the room after reliving those memories.
Yes. It’s a date.