Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Make Lemonade

I'm a fortunate person because the other day, a lemonade stand popped up on my street. When it's almost a hundred degrees out, that's what you do.

I happened to be thirsty. I also happened to have 25 cents. That bought me a glass of cold lemonade, time with my neighbors and some good memories.

When John and I moved onto the block this girl was just a teeny thing. Her mother was pregnant with her little sister and her brother wasn't even an idea yet. If I'm lucky, I'll get to watch these kids grow up. The thought of this is beyond joyful to me. I mean it exactly that way; it's more than joy, it's profound to watch these lives unfold, to observe these small people becoming themselves.

Hey! How long do you think I can keep this blog going? If the kids keep posing, you'll get to watch some growing, too.

33 comments:

John Sandel said...

I know these kids, and the others on the block, & it's true: their little brains are wiring up so fast, you can practically hear the neurons snapping together. (It sounds faintly like teensy bacon frying.) I guess they're positioning themselves for 2110.

Trish said...

one can only HOPE they are positioning for 2010 or something not far from that...brains that work...whatta concept!

love the neighborhood lemonade stands!

wv: xyjylev
am not even sure I can get that right!

Dina said...

We'll be waiting for you to shoot their wedding, Petrea.

Gee, last time *I* sold lemonade at a homemade stand, it went for 5 cents a glass. When I was that girl's age ...

Enjoy the joy of growth watch.

Escapist said...

Oooooo Lemonade my fav drink,when ever its terrible hot n we put wth frndz,i try to tk it....


joolliieess!!!!!!!

Italo said...

Ciao Petrea, I think your photos for me are now necessary each day like my espresso! :)
Sweet photo the little businesswoman.

TheChieftess said...

Very cool....lemonade, that is!!!

We've just recently had some new kids join our block...some neighbors are fostering and attempting to adopt two beautiful little girls 4 and 3...We also have a young family a few doors down, complete with the laughter and sounds of splashing in their pool on a summer's morning... Joyful is absolutely the right word

jali blog said...

verry fun activities

Petrea Burchard said...

We have a lot of kids on our block. The snapping neurons make it hard to concentrate around here.

Trish, your WV looks like html code.

Inflation, Dina. But it was worth it.

There's something about lemonade, Escapist. It's the thing for a hot day.

Italo, I'm glad to hear it. Your visits and comments are welcome.

Isn't it the truth, Chieftess? J & I agree--loud music or radio is a major annoyance on a quiet residential street, but kid noise is never a problem.

Hi jali blog, thanks for stopping in.

ben wideman said...

Might just be your cutest picture yet.

Desiree said...

Utterly adollable--

Trish said...

kids playing is a great sound---certainly better than loud music (ask me how I know of recent memory at 3 freekin am). The only thing I tell the kids is that if the scream that high pitched squeal like there is a monster in front of them, or like their arm fell off, one of the two better have happened...other than that, I'm fine with most kid play noises.

you're right P---that looked more like Croatian or Welsh than English...the next wv was "untess"...untess your arm fell off your body and into the street, you'd best not be screaming like that! ;-)

eamon@ewmphotography said...

A very touching post - and so true. Watching our kids and their friends develop and grow is life's greatest gift.

marley said...

What fun! 25c well spent :)

HearkenCreative said...

"Joy" and "profound" -- I completely agree with you, Petrea, that those words describe watching children grow up into functioning, happy young adults ("sheer terror" is another couple of words that come to mind). Nice post. May these kids continue to brighten your day and the entire neighborhood for years to come...

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, guys.

"Sheer terror" probably comes under parenting and not neighboring, Loren!

HearkenCreative said...

No, I'm in sheer terror of some of my neighbor's kids! (Or at least I was when they were teenagers several years ago...)

John Sandel said...

Hey, I just looked at the photo again and, um, what the h*ll was Boz doing behind that tree? That's a Guilt Slink if I ever saw one.

Anybody got a plastic bag …?



(For this, my word-challenge was, believe it or not, preates)

Petrea Burchard said...

Since Boz feels only joy about pooing and never guilt, he must have eaten something.

pasadenapio said...

I'm excited at the thought of the second annual "neighbor girls at lemonade stand" shot!

Katie said...

What a sweet photo! I do hope to see more photos of these girls and the other kids on your block as they grow up. Nothing says summer like kids selling lemonade! On my block I have a church, 3 seminaries (Dominican, Franciscan, and Unitarian) and the Pacific School of Religion, so I've yet to see a lemonade stand. Or hot weather; maybe I should head down Pasadena way!

John Sandel said...

"So a Dominican, a Franciscan and a Unitarian walk up to this lemonade stand …"

USelaine said...

I didn't want to mess with the fine ending on yesterday's comments, I wish John everything I've come to realize about 50: Don't read the celebrity obits. That's all I'm sayin'.

Ms M said...

A fun picture! We have a couple of youthful entrepreneurs in our neighborhood too.

Cafe Observer said...

John is starting to sound like someone in his 50's!

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh, har har. And no kidding about the obits.

John Sandel said...

Yeah, it's a dead subject. ¡Shormet!

b.c. said...

Hi Petrea!!! oh yes do keep posting, we'll watch them grow with you :)

Anonymous said...

Oh, I love that she is keeping her money in a Hello Kitty lunch box! And you are awesome for buying from them. We've got to encourage free enterprise wherever we can find it!

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi b.c.! Thanks for coming by, good to see you.

Nikki, her mother told me she never passes a lemonade stand, no matter what. She sees one, she pulls over. That's the law. I think it's a good one and I'm going to implement it myself.

Mary said...

Budding little entrepreneurs, they are. I too, make it a habit to visit the rare lemonade stand these days. Have been watching my neighbor's 4 1/2 year old daughter, Abbey, grow up before my eyes. What a delight! Every day she comes out onto her porch and says 'Hi Marenie' as she couldn't say 'Mary' when she was little. Am thinking of changing my name as I like the whimsical sound of 'Marenie' (rhymes w/Jeremy).

Petrea Burchard said...

Mary, it's wonderful to hear one's name spoken by a child, however they happen to interpret it!

Danial Bigham said...

the kids look like lemonade,because kids is delicious.

Petrea Burchard said...

They are very sweet kids, Danial!