Goin' Solo....

The school doors flew open with only 

the joy and glee singular 

to the last day of school...

Kids burst outside with wide smiles 

and report cards...

They turned west, not into the sunset, 

but toward the school picnic at Hamlin Park...  

Armed with water balloons and squirt guns 

rivaled only by those brandished in "Men In Black 3", 

it was pure battle between bites of grilled dogs and Doritos...  

Parents set up camp, by grade level, 

along the perimeter, tables of veggies, dips, 

cubed fruit, salads, chips, brownies, 

cookies, burgers and dogs...  

Juice boxes littered the ground, semi drunk...  

Parents shared whose what where next fall 

and what's up for summer...  

I am an outsider in the fourth grade parent crowd, 

having joined school when Jack 

was halfway through first grade...  

By then most parents 

have bonded during kindergarten...  

Becoming part of the group

can be a challenge, 

even for grown ups... 

So, I did what any little kid would do, 

I brought candy... 

The adult kind...  

I brought Sangria...  

It was a risk, given that, 

A: alcoholic beverages are prohibited 

at city parks and, 

B: that some parents might not find humor 

in an adult beverage at a kid event...  

My feelings on the subject are, 

A: some rules are meant to be broken, 

B: It's Friday and the last day of school, and 

C: if they can't take a joke, then tough noogies.    

The key was to offer said Sangria 

in perfectly concealed containers; 

Solo cups... 

I am not an innovator... 

Earlier in the week at the kindergarten picnic 

at the same park, 

a group of parents were cradling Solo cups 

in such a way as one does while drinking booze.  

It was telltale; a sure giveaway 

that they were shunning authority.  

They were drinking rose'!  

Oh, we were jealous, 

us water bottle toting people!  

And that is when I decided 

to throw caution 

to the wind 

and bring the good stuff...  

I first offered the fresh, fruity drink 

to one of my friends whom I knew 

was up for more than a can of Coke... 

She gratefully accepted the Solo 

and would have drunk more if she didn't have 

to corral her three kids 

and drive them six hours up north 

for the weekend...  

I then became more brave 

and offered the Sangria to a mom 

I am getting to know... 

Her surprise and elation at the thought 

of an alcoholic bevvie 

was pleasantly refreshing....  

So far so good...  

I finished my half filled Solo 

and was feeling almost reckless 

as I offered Sangria to the PTA president, 

no less!  

She almost looked relieved 

as she sipped from the Solo.... 

It felt good to hang with the moms 

for more than the five minutes 

at pick-up each day...  

I felt a little bit like the nerdy kid, 

trying to score with the popular crowd, 

but who cares?  

We had some fun 

while the kids ran themselves ragged...  

I have a bunch of this tasty Sangria 

left over and the sun is setting....  

Time to go share with some neighbors....  

Summer is here!

This Sangria is from Aldi and cost only $4.99.  
I juiced it up with 1/2 C orange juice, one small jar of maraschino cherries, sliced limes, lemons, apples and oranges.  
Chill and serve over ice.....