Americana on Elliott Place

As you might have noticed, I did not fulfill my own challenge to have 7 posts in 7 days. I blew it on Day 5, I believe - Lol!  In my planning, I knew I would be away for the 4th of July weekend, and hoped I would be able to stockpile a few blogs and publish daily. That didn't happen :-) I may have failed the challenge but I was successful in kickstarting my writing. In just those few days, I wrote more than I had written in all the time since I created Veni-Vidi-Scripti. Yay! 

So in the spirit of challenge and overcoming adversity, I bring you my take on something awesome that happened over the weekend. Two things actually...and they both had to do with spirit and perseverance. One happened ON Elliott Place and the other IN Germany but I watched from Elliott Place.

The first...The Sykes Lemonade Stand, manned all weekend by Caroline and Henry.

They hatched the plan on Friday night. Caroline was so excited she could hardly sleep! Saturday morning dawned bright, hot, and very humid...perfect for thirsty customers. We set up the beach umbrella, table, ice cooler, and lemonade pitchers. Then they sat and waited...

They ran the stand for 5 hours on Saturday and 6 hours on Sunday.  If you build it, they will come. And come the customers did - neighbors, cyclists, dog walkers, beach-goers, Sunday drivers.  Their best customers by far were the biker dudes.These barrel-chested, bearded guys would drive up and park, purchase, recycle the cup, and off they roared on their hogs.  I don't think these guys could resist two kids with a checkered tablecloth selling good, old-fashioned lemonade. Too funny!

Jeff and I were really proud of our kids. They handled their stand like pros, waiting on customers, counting money, making change. They had the patience to sit out in the blasted heat for two days, never complaining once. Anyone who has kids, been around kids, or ever been a kid will understand that in itself is a minor miracle!  They were so determined and serious about it,  I finally had to buy the last two cups on Saturday just so we all could go to the beach.

YOU GO, GIRLS!
On Sunday, I may have been in my living room on Elliott Place, but my heart was in Dresden, Germany! The second awesome thing-- the Women's FIFA soccer game between Brazil and U.S.A.  . This game was a doozy! I watched it live and I am not one for sitting inside on a summer day to watch sports. But I hardly sat...I cheered, I cried, I cheered some more, I jumped up and down, I pumped my fists.
There was drama, oh boy! Bad calls, yellow cards, a red card, amazing plays and athleticism, but what I will remember most is how the entire team never gave up, never pouted or showed poor sportsmanship. Our USA women showed the world an amazing display the HUMAN spirit. I can't recall the last time a women's sporting event captured the front page of  The Washington Post...above the crease, mind you!

This weekend the American entrepreneurial spirit was alive and prospering in front of 116 Elliott Place and the American Girl Power was being cheered inside 116 Elliott Place.
I raise my glass of ice-cold lemonade to spirit and perseverance!

--Meghan