No one believes me, but
So what? I am driving a
Caddy while they are
Happy with their used
Fords and Chevys. It
All started the summer
I decided to spike the
Lemonade with a bit of vodka
The formula was simple:
The juice of 8 lemons, 4
Tangerines, 6 ounces of
Vodka, Ice cubes, and water
A simple sign said: “Juice
Stand; feel good before
You get home. Four dollars”
I was usually blessed with
A dollar tip. Now and then
An older sophisticated
Gentleman would hand me
A ten and say keep the change,
You have changed my life
My carefree uncle signed
For all the permits and
Was in charge of procuring
The ingredients. Before long
I had ten stands and
An enforcer who lets everyone
Know that the lead pipe
He carries is to keep
Everyone in line. My lawyer
Wrote up contracts and
Before the summer was
Half-over we had a happy
Community. The next year
We expanded into three
Communities, then six and
Finally twelve. I did not
Sweat the fine points
A corporation bought
Me out and set up franchises
Across the country. Of course
My enforcer made sure I got
A cut of the profits and everyone
Was happy. We lasted eight years
Before the war closed
The popularity of the business.
You can imagine. It was a
Good run. I invested elsewhere
And my nest egg kept growing.
I was interviewed and wrote
A book named “Don’t Forget
The Vodka.” It became a best
Seller and was the talk of the town.
Looking back I can say that I
Squeezed a lot of joy out of life
Stanski
August 9, 2022, ^
Steve Haarman 