Written by Many of you know that a beach doesn’t rank among my childhood memories, since I didn’t actually get to visit one until I was all grown up. When I finally did, I was overjoyed. And, although I partook in adult beverages at that time, I decided to doodlewash one of my favorite drinks as a kid, a cherry limeade. I’m quite sure if I’d ever had the opportunity to visit a beach back then that this would have been the first drink I would have ordered. Though I did enjoy the taste, it was the impossible color that made it seem so awesome. It almost glowed in the sun. A vibrant, but not quite really red color that I remember quite well (actually, no red was used in this doodlewash, just a vivid pink mixed with dashes of yellow and turquoise). It was all in vogue back then to add a splash of red to some clear bubbly soda of some sort as a way to make a kid’s cocktail. A bit of grenadine added to ginger ale produces something called a Shirley Temple that I was served back then as well. This was named after the famous child actress, but she actually despised the beverage calling it “too sweet.” Indeed, it was. But, as a child, it was still fun to be served a special and magical glowing drink.
Looking back, I have to giggle when I think about these drinks. I was so ready to be a grown up back then, and wanted a special cocktail just like I saw my parents getting. Well, actually my mom never drank and my dad only really drank beer, so most of my references to cocktails came from the people I saw in movies. These days, of course, I’m all about being a kid again. But, you won’t find me trying one of these drinks today. Shirley Temple and I now agree they’re a bit too syrupy to be enjoyable. Instead, I’ll just picture a little imagined version of myself making sand castles on the beach, taking a break to enjoy my favorite drink, and then rushing out to splash in the waves. It seems like a wonderful time indeed, if only in my head. I’m sure I would have been totally fascinated by a beach at that age. Strolling along the edge of the waves with my eyes darting about intent on finding a new shell or other treasure. I’m sure my mother would have had a hard time getting me to leave.
Though I didn’t get to experience some things as a kid, I got to do plenty of amazing things that I recall fondly. And there is a list a mile long of things that I still want to do as an adult. I’m not sure if I’ll have enough time left on this planet to do them all, but I’m excited for the chance. I figure if I just keep on doing things, each and every day, then a handful of those dreams are bond to come true. And one day, I hope to look back on all that I’ve accomplished and feel like I at least gave it my best attempt. I don’t really need much more than that to feel satisfied. My only real hope is that I never lose my ability to imagine wonderful possibilities. To, dream backward and think about what things might have been like and enjoy the moment as though it were actually happening. Like, in this perfectly imagined moment, where I can raise one of these glasses to toast my childhood self, as together, we happily enjoy our drinks in the sand.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Opus (Vivid Pink), Leaf Green, Yellow Ochre, Aureolin, Cobalt Turquoise, Cobalt Blue, and Terra Cotta. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash? Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop! |
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Your drinks look so refreshing! I was terrified of the ocean as a child. Evidently, I’d seen a tidal wave in a newsreel, and I’d watch the waves obsessively, afraid that every large wave was the beginning of something huge. And there are lots of large waves on the Oregon Coast. My brother didn’t help because of course he found it hilarious, and would run screaming that there WAS a tidal wave. If reincarnation is true, I’m coming back as the oldest child next time!
Hmmm….Oregon reference. Do you live in Oregon now? I do! I never used to be afraid of the beach until the last few years when “sneaker waves” have been in the news a lot. Now I am!
How sad 😢! I grew up on the beach… Long Island and treasure ALL my days relaxing and remembering all the fun : high tide/low tide, swimming , diving, sunbathing just simple fun🐠⛱
I’m not afraid of the ocean anymore, but I do keep an eye on the tides. Still in Oregon!
hehe… I should live in Oregon! 😃💕There’s a ton of doodlewashers there! Even a group dedicated to it on this site – https://doodlewash.com/groups/portland-oregon-usa-peeps/ – Join if you haven’t yet! hehe And your Sneaker Wave reference reminded me of a guest post by my friend Raylene… check it out when you get a chance – https://doodlewash.com/guest-doodlewash-sneaker-waves/
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕hehe… your brother sounds perfectly awful in a way that still manages to make me giggle. 😊Perhaps that’s just because I was a brother as well. lol And yay for reincarnation if it exists! It would make everything so different the next time around! 😉
Well, to be perfectly fair there were times when he was perfectly wonderful too and he grew up to be a perfectly wonderful guy.
hehe… it’s good to know that brothers do that! I only hope I managed to do the same! 😉
They look great, and sound terribly grown up 😉 I’ve never tried one. It might be a bit on the sweet side but I think we could do with some of that to shake us out of this January murk!
Thanks, Jacob! 😃💕 hehe.. yeah, I always thought they were terribly grown up when I was young. Now that I’m older, there just really sweet! lol But yeah, anything to help the January murk… I’ll be close to you very soon enjoying rainy days and lots of murk! 😉
I’ve never had a cherry limeade, though I have had a Shirley Temple. Your drinks look beautiful and inviting – would be perfect beach drinks!
Thanks, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah, I actually preferred the cherry limeade to the Shirley Temple, but both drinks were better in color than flavor in the end! hehe
We were raised Kool-Aid kids. We lived on Green Lake in central Wisconsin and I loved the beach and lake more than anything. We had a big round Thermos painted plaid that was filled with ice and Kool-Aid. I haven’t thought of that squat fat thing in years. I always liked the blue drink best, which probably explains my penchant for blue Slushies and Snocones. Given a chance I would have spent every hour of every summer day at the beach. The moms were not that accommodating. Lol
hehe! Every day at the beach sounds like bliss to me! 😃💕 Love that memory, Lisa! And yay for Kool-Aid… I was one of those kids as well. And I liked blue too! Mostly because staining your tongue blue was just cooler somehow. 😉
Do you use any white in any of your paintings? Or are you one of those gifted people who know where to leave white spaces? I love seeing your glass paintings. I tried on my fishbowl, but didn’t have the results I was hoping for. I’ll try again. 🙂
Thanks, Lori! 😃💕 I do have white gel pens, but I never use them. I’m one of those folks who just leaves the paper to do the job. That said… I have zero patience, so some of my “white” come from a quick scrub with a paper towel! lol I actually like how it makes the edges less severe and adds a bit of brilliance. 😉
Lol, I tried that last night on my snack sketch, didn’t wait to hear your response. No patience here either. Thanks for the tip. 😉
I’m catching up reading the newest first which I don’t usually do,
but it works perfectly this time because you just tantalized my taste buds
with your potato chips. These deliciously real drinks are a perfect follow up.
Thanks, friend! 😃💕 hehe… yeah.. give me a cherry limeade and potato chips and you’ve just given me a bit of heaven !