Coke with No Ice

However mean your life is, meet it and live it. - Thoreau

Not tryin' to be funny.

When I was growing up, my father didn't make much money.

Going out to eat was a rare treat.

The dessert oh-so sweet.

It would always be after church.

Following faith's diligent search.

Mom would tell us exactly how to act and what to do.

Because she thought we hadn't the slightest clue.

She'd make us mind our manners and hold our cuss.

To avoid a scene and not cause a fuss.

We were ebulliently willing and eager.

Despite the funds being meager.

We had to get the most for our money.

'Cuz not all our days were bright and sunny.

After all, there had been a war, y'know.

Fought with sad tales of woe.

And elsewhere in the world, people were starvin'.

It takes some sufferin' before things are thrivin'.

We should always put aside some pay.

Savin' for that inevitable, rainy day.

Less is more.

For a party of four.

Still, we thought it was nice.

Even though she made us order ...

... coke with no ice ...

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

Ordering it without ice gave you more coke, right? That's why they serve so much ice in your glass whenever you order, so you don't get that much coke. I don't remember eating out in restaurants, but we had pizza every now and then, and that pretty much made our day. Come to think of it, it still does!

[Pete]

Yup Lol. we rarely ate out - that's why it is so memorable. omg, pizza was an even greater thrill ... :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

I know, right? Lol...

[Dr. YumnaKay]

This one made me nostalgic of the times I used to go out with my family as a kid, and of course, the ways us siblings were told to behave in front of everyone. That ice bit in the end really made me smile btw.
Interesting write and very much enjoyed.

[Pete]

thank you Dr. Yumnakay. when i wrote this, i didn't realize how much it would strike a chord of remembrances about growing up. 90 degrees today, supposed to be 100 degrees tomorrow here in boston - i think i'll take the ice this time, stay cool ... :)

[CLR9]

But...you can't mix coke with ice. Those are two completely different drugs!
Just kidding
great read though.

[Pete]

Lol. if i'm not mistaken, coca-cola was invented by a pharmacist at a soda fountain and it originally contained cocaine. thanks for stopping by for a sip (hit) CLR9 ... :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

smart mom...otherwise it is almost all ice, no coke...growing up scraping makes us appreciate the little things and how to make a buck go much further...
I was always taught to appreciate money...and to be careful with it...it doesn't grow on trees, as my folks would say.
i understand this and relate to it...and it is really well put together, Pete,
j.

[Pete]

my parents were very frugal out of necessity (old school). they grew up during the great depression followed by wwII. mom was a housewife and never worked outside of the house. she knew how to sew and did seamstress work at home by word of mouth. they knew what it was like to go without and could squeeze a dime from a nickel. there were repairmen/shops back then. so different than today's disposable society. thank you for relating jacob ... :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I hear ya...my folks grew up in the same period...
they had so many stories of how it was then.
it is amazing how for five dollars we used to get 3 or 4 bags of groceries back when even i was a kid.
But now, three items and it is nearly twenty bucks...
so crazy...

[Stephanie]

This is a very sweet and relatable piece. Brought back a lot of memories from when I was young and would go to church with my family (we would also occasionally go out for a meal together afterwards). Very nicely written. A joy to read :)

[Pete]

thanks Stephanie. life was just so different. glad it brought back some memories for you ... :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I still ask for one piece of ice to prevent the theft of my chosen drink and I get the bartender to fill my beer if the 'head' is too thick! I enjoyed this as it harks back to those austere post war times and conveys family life of that era so well.

[Pete]

thanks John. 'tis good to have a glass half full rather than half empty literally & figuratively speaking. oh those memories ... :)

[Chris Shaw]

Your mum wanted to make sure she was getting her money's worth. Really enjoyed this well written poem Pete. It reminded me of living with my mum and dad. In those days people just didn't go out for meals unless they were loaded. I was 17 before I went out to eat in a posh restaurant. That was the first time I had a steak. Oh, and a prawn cocktail to start. That was such a treat, so I thank you for bringing that memory back to me with your lovely poem.

Chris

[Pete]

my pleasure chris. was remembering those times myself and this spilled out. i am pleased that it brought back memories for you. these are the threads of our lives and are part of the fiber that makes us who we are ... :)

[NotUsinganymore]

Very nice story. I wish I had some normal childhood memories with my family. Maybe if we were in a different circumstance and country, life would be like this.

[Pete]

i'm sorry for your difficulties growing up. these things are part of who we are. i think the key is to rise above our circumstances and turn bad into good no matter. that is real strength of character. thank you junglee ... :)

[NotUsinganymore]

Thank you c:

[Cherrie Palmer]

Love it, eating out was a grown up treat,and if kids got to go they were to mirror their elders.

[Pete]

thanks Cherrie. it sure was. if we didn't behave, we'd never hear the end of it. oh the discussions we'd have. fond memories and part of growing up ... :)

[Cherrie Palmer]

true, those were good days to miss.