Fountain sodas are, among other things, a little way I like to reward myself for doing things that I despise.  Like pumping gas.  I even have a little latch that will hold my pump handle for me while I escape inside to find happiness lying in rows of brightly colored square labels.  And if I time my selection-indecisiveness correctly, I arrive back at my car for the instant gratification of a full tank and a 44 ouncer.

If you asked those who know me, they would be able to tell you about my mild, okay moderate, fountain soda adoration. But if you’re talking to someone who really knows me, they would most likely be able to dish about this pop affair in grave detail.  There’s a science to it.  So much so that when we got married, Scott was asked in a quiz if he knew what kind of ice I preferred.  If you wanna make sure someone is really right for one of your besties – then you gotta make sure he knows her down to the nitty gritty.  And for me, that just happened to lie in a cup full of perfectly soft and crunchy pellet ice.

Last year (I’m pretty sure sparked by my lame whimpering about whatever I was “depriving” myself of), my boss brought me in an article she saw in the New York Times about Lent.  It gave new meaning to the ritual of sacrificing and, this year, I decided to fall back on this newly discovered founding tradition. Instead of just giving something up, I would give something up that in turn could benefit something, or someone back.  And as saddened as I was (literally, saddened), my fountain soda affinity took the hit.

But I made it.  Forty days and Forty nights, baby.  Right up to the mac-daddy day of celebration, otherwise known as Easter.  And this is how ours played out…

The Easter Bunny showed up, which was obvious by the collection of goodies speckled through the landscape in their creative hidings.  But then he literally showed up.  And on any other day, it would take a glance of about .125 seconds before I would high-tail it the nearest spot I could find equipped with lockable doors.  But since I was about 99.9% positive that I knew who was tucked inside the ball of fur, I put my big-girl pants on and stuck it out.  Aubrey, she ran up and gave that bunny a big ol’ hug.  Obviously, some of us are a little more accepting than others.

Scott was trying to tap his cheek to motion her for a kiss.  She thought he was telling her to bang on his bunny head.  Trickles of sweat were forming streams into rivers trapped in a stagnant suit of polyester fluff and to top if off you’re gettin’ beat.  How can you not laugh?

Aubs did have her suspicions, there were toes popping out from time to time and Uncle Scott was “in the bathroom” for quite a while.  Yep, that’s what happens when you eat too much Easter chocolate.

But then it was time for him to leave.  And this is where the magic happened.  He made his exit around the side of the house, barreling into chlorine containers and pool equipment from the limited view through painted mesh eyes.  Aubrey jumped up and ran over to see if the bunny was okay.  By then he was gone, gate closed and locked behind him.  With bright eyes and a glimpse of amazement she turned to us and said “He disappeared!”  Even if it was just for a split second, she believed.

Scott, you officially go down in the books as the best Uncle of the Year!

The afternoon was full of friends and love and reveling in the way children give celebrations so much more to celebrate.  The heightened joy, raised to a bar beyond expectations, and the soul-filled warmth of complacency.

Which included polishing fingers and toes…

and most definitely customized tattoos for everyone!

And falling more and more in love with this little girl…

and watching her fall more and more in love with her dad.

Later that day we found our spiritual sanctuary together on the water.  Where we narrowly escaped impeding rain clouds and found peace perched on a sliver of sand fighting high tide.  It was a nice close and a reflection on what the day was really about.  Our presence here, the power of honesty and sacrifice and the reminder of what it truly means to love others more than oneself.  It’s not something you buy, or tell, or preach.  It’s something you show and feel and hope through these things to teach.

Easter gave me my fizz renewal.

Complete with pellet ice and a cherry on top!

The money saved and tallied from every soda fountain craving was donated with love to this local charity.  “The children of today are the citizens of tomorrow…”

Suggested Listening:   Generator First Floor  /  Freelance Whales