Lemonade

I called my mom at the store the other day to tell her we’re out of lemonade

“Ok” she says “I’ll see if I can pick some up”

30 minutes later 12 different varieties of lemonade parade through my house

Filling both the upstairs and downstairs refrigerators

“What’re we gonna do with 12 jugs of the same drink?” I ask

“Drink it” my mom replies bluntly

She says she bought it because I asked for it

But I know the real reason for this excessive citrusy overload

Lemonade is summer in its liquid form

Sweet and relaxing

It takes you away to beaches with rolling waves

Summer nights crabbing on abandoned bridges

Staying up till 2 in the morning on your friends porch talking about nothing

My family thrives on liquid summer year round

Even in the winter months

We bring it into the house to provide a brief reminder of those hot summer days

And escape the freezing chill outside

My mom did not simply buy lemonade to have lemonade

But rather to preserve her last bit of summer

Before cold months ahead come

Leaving a bitter taste in your mouth

Like the sourness that follows the sweet citrus in a glass of lemonade