Children setting up and promoting Kool-Aid stands, or lemonade stands if you prefer, provide some of the most endearing and indelible images of summer.
Choosing the outdoors rather than spending the day in the confines of their home playing video games or frolicking with friends not only gives adult passersby the opportunity to quench their thirst, but also inspires faith that the young generation is full of budding entrepreneurs. They all have their reasons for setting up shop, whether financial or fun. Either way, good on them for taking the initiative.
But watching vehicles go by without stopping while the product slowly warms up will disappoint the proprietors, and also affect their bottomline. After all, someone forked out hard-earned pay for those Kool-Aid crystals at some point, not to mention the elbow grease involved in the stirring process.
Stopping will lift their spirits, add to their coffers, and just might make their day. Other than a coin or two, a donation of a few minutes of time is all that’s required. Their work and effort should be rewarded, and anyone who takes the time to stop for refreshments and a quick chat just might find their own reward. It’s payback time. If someone stopped at your lemonade stand years ago, pay it forward. If no one stopped, remember that feeling and do what you can to change the course of a young person’s day.
In the memorable words of movie character Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”
Those who grew up in a younger or older demographic may not know the quote, and those who do will certainly attribute it to the character rather than the screenwriter of the iconic 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. But 32 years later, the words ring true.
In this case, stop, take a break, quench your thirst and put a smile on someone’s face. Wherever it is you’re heading will still be there a few minutes later, unless you’re late for the ferry.
Take a moment to think about simpler times. As children, we had rules, but we also had freedom, including the option to sell beverages, and sometimes food, on the side of the road for profit (theoretically) without having to go through the process of obtaining a permit from city hall. By all accounts, doing that as an adult businessperson is not so simple at all.
You never know where the next pop-up stand will...pop up, or what treats it will have in store other than the standard fare. There is only one way to find out.
Summer goes by in a flash; don’t miss out.
