Maraschino Cherries
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December 5, 2016, Maraschino Cherries
As a kid growing up I really loved the soda fountain ice cream sundaes. It didn’t happen often but when the folks decided to spring for one, it was a real treat. We are talking about a serious sundae with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, whip cream, and topped with a maraschino cherry. The best part was always the bright red, super sweet, cherry on top. It made the whole thing special. Two blocks from my house was my grade school. Across the street from the school was Fischer’s school store, and behind Fischer’s was “the jungle”. During the week the jungle was where the older guy’s hung out during lunch. No girls and no punk kids were allowed. This secret hang out was basically an over grown lot with a clearing in the center. The brush was tall enough to hide those inside from the wondering eyes of those who passed by. I think they smoked the cigarettes they snuck from their parents, but not being an “older guy” I never knew for sure. Next to the school store was the Hi-Lo grocery store. They sold everything from fresh meats and produce to canned goods and cake mixes –including glass jars full of bright red, very sweet, maraschino cherries. It was a Saturday and I had both a dollar and a great idea. Why not take my dollar and walk the two blocks to the Hi-Lo and buy a jar of maraschino cherries. Since none of the older guys would be around, I could sneak into the jungle and eat the whole jar by myself. Actually the plan worked exactly as I thought. All except for the throwing up part after I ate all cherries. Now from that adventure I learned several things. First, when you have a plan, be aware that unintended consequences may occur. Second, you may like something very much in small amounts, but that does not always translate to “more is better”. And third, I didn’t like maraschino cherries as much as I thought. The possible moral to my story – Be careful what you pray for, you just might get it. |