Guest Post from Chris: A Nashville Story

I work for a vocational rehab out in Franklin, TN - and we use horticulture as our program to help people with disabilities learn how to work at a job better. On Thursdays, I set up a produce tent up in Leiper's Fork- just down the road, in the parking lot of an old general store named "Puckett's"...Leiper's Fork is a real interesting little spot- all kinds of locals and newbies intermingling into this hodgepodge of old farmers and young, rich artsy people...some you've heard of , some more behind the scenes kind of people...(one of my favorite meets was meeting the producer of WKRP in Cincinatti, Rod Daniels....go Les Nessman!)

Anyway, one Thursday a while back, I was particularly late for setting up at Puckett's and I was barreling down the road to get there...as I pulled up to the store, I could see a couple of kids with a lemonade stand set up right where I set my tent up. My first reaction involved sweat running down my forhead and choice words under my breath...but as I pulled in, I realized I could handle this one of two ways...that way, or a much nicer way- after all- they are cute little kids...

So, as I walked up to their tiny little table and yellow sports cooler sitting under the afternoon Tennessee sun, I said "Whatchya got here?!"
"LEMONADE!!.....WANNA BUY SOME!!!!!!!?"
I looked around and took a quick assesment...2 adults, both female- casual biker-like attire of sweats t-shirt and dew rag...2 kids, both wearing designer clothes...one table with Gatorade-like cooler full of lemonade...one floppy poster with magic marker scribblings that said 'lemonade'....
"Well, I'll tell you what....how would you like to sell your lemonade under my tent here, this way you can get out of the sun and maybe attract more people?"
After a second of good thought, the young girl agreed and the two adults both grinned sheepishly, realizing they were in already staked out parking lot plot....but I was genuinely more than happy to share and accomodate..
As I set up- the little girl took her poster and stood dangerously close to the passing cars on the road....shouting her iron-clad slogan
"If life gives you lemons - make lemonADE!'
I looked over at the boy, probably her little brother...sitting by the Puckett's BBQ grill and rolling his eyes...."Gracie!...."
One more car came by......"If life gives you lemons....make lemonADE!" Finishing off strong with the high-pitched "ade" ...
And on and on as each car went by...
One of the 2 adults, a woman with dark hair, wanted to go shopping for "Auntie" for Mother's Day....so she took off....leaving the other woman with lighter hair....as I set up, both her and the little girl asked questions about the Center where I work and I asked who they were selling lemonade for. The young boy, who was dressed in serious hip-hop garb (complete with SERIOUS bling bling in each ear!) told me all about the "BackPack Kids" who would be getting all the proceeds form the sales...this kid had it DOWN! Like he was their proffessional spokesperson....I told him I was really impressed with him and how cool it was that they were doing this for such a worthy benefit like this one (BackPack kids are kids who go to school every day hungry because their families cant afford a good meal for them every day)...didnt think that happened here, did ya?)

Anyway....the girl intoduced herself to me "I'm Gracie"
"Nice to meet you Gracie, I'm Chris"
She says...."What are you selling?"
"Well....today we have a buch of great organically grown lettuces like spinach and Kale and Mesculin Mix..."
After some more good thought, Gracie asked "Well, can I make up slogan for you?"
"Sure!"
A couple of minutes later, she came back with another poster that had "spinich" on it....
She ran out to the road and began to shout...

"It's Green, it's Crunchy......so why don't you buy a BUNCHY!"

I fell over. We all did....that had to have been the cutest moment ever in history.

Gracie was clearly pleased with our reaction to her brilliant slogan, so she beemed as she flagged down cars to tell each one of our miracle lettuces.

Moments later, a long caddilac pulled up and an older woman with red hair got out...her liscence plate said "FAITH".....
She bought a cup of lemonade and she looked at me and I said "Hi".....then she got in and drove off....later someone asked if that was "MeMa".......
"Yeah" said Gracie "She gave us a hundred."
"Well I guess she can just about afford it", they said.....
I'm thinkin........who was that?

Well after about an hour of wonderful hangin around and sellin the lemonade and 'Spinich'.....a large, black Hum-V pulls up and they all shout "Here comes Mamma..."
It was Wynona Judd.

Gracie said her quick goodbye- her little brother waved and the last adult kind of said 'see ya' or something, later thinking about it- I realized that one of the adults was probably Ashley Judd...Mema was obviously Naomi....then they were all off.....

Classic Leiper's Fork moment...

Now, every so often....I'll see the black Hum-V coming along the road and in that arching sound wave...quiet, then louder - loud - then quiter , then gone

"....It's green it's crunchy SO WHY Dont you buy a buncheeeeeee...."
And I'll wave hello.