When I was little and got sick, no matter what the doctor prescribed, it was my mother's antidote that made me feel better: a Pepsi with crushed ice.
When I was sooo sick I couldn't do anything but lie on our sofa and watch TV, I listened while Mama fixed it for me. Back in the day before ice makers were a standard refrigerator feature, we had the old countertop version. Clumsy and loud, it sounded more like a kitchen demolition than a beverage under construction. The crunch and clatter were a happy kitchen commotion and I knew the end result was my sweet and syrupy drink over slivers of ice.
Usually my drink was accompanied by a cool washcloth; if I was sick enough for a Coke then I was probably running a fever. Sometimes, it even had a bendy-straw; and always, always, TLC was administered: soothing words, a gentle back rub, and that furrowed brow of concern that told me Mama would trade places with me in a skinny minute if she could.
Mothers are born with healing…sometimes in their touch, but sometimes just in the way they look at you.
Isabel came quickly and knew to serve it over crushed ice.
I think I felt better, but I know I felt loved.
When my own babies had an upset tummy or the Dreaded EpizudICKs, I'd offer them this chilled remedy in a glass. I learned first by observation a lifetime ago, and then by doing, that a mother's Proper Bedside Manor is magic!
Was it ever about the Pepsi or cool washcloth or softly-spoken words? Or was it mostly about administering an invisible love-balm that transcends traditional medicine and does a body the most good of all?
Something kinda wonderful happened over the past week: I got sick. Though eventually testing negative for Swine Flu and Strep (I had been exposed to both), I felt AWFUL–fever, chills, relentless headache, nasty cough, achy and plain tired. For a few days, I was One with my bed. My family kept checking on me, because it's universal to want to DO something when someone you love is sick, and the second-best thing that happened was my husband brought me breakfast in bed one morning.
But the best thing?
My daughter brought me a Coke. With crushed ice. And a bendy straw. And I felt better.
Proving two things:
- Pavlov was right.
- Children learn by example.
And though I wasn't instantly healed, I felt much better following the gesture. I smiled at the thought of my daughter doing for me what my mother once had…and knowing one day she would do the same for her children and think of me.
Maybe not medicine for the body, but definitely elixir for the soul.
Note: Though I'm sure it wouldn't please the manufacturers, Pepsi and Coke work pretty much the same in this equation…or even Sprite for that matter. It's all about a carbonated beverage full of sugar. Which is hardly good for anybody, but absolutely works wonders for me!! 🙂
This is such a great post. My mom did the same thing with either ginger ale or flat coke with vanilla syrup, depending on if I had the flu or a stomach virus. Now my boyfriend does the same for me.
Robin, what a sweet story! And I’m glad you’re feeling better. What I can’t get over, though, is the thought of those other people at CVS not giving up their seat even after you laid down on the floor. That’s just terrible!
Love this story. I could use one of those and I’m not even sick. (For the record, in the south we call all soda “coke”.) 🙂
Ginger ale at our house…definitely with the bendy-straw.
I am horrified that people wouldn’t give up a seat for you! How rude!
Glad you’re feeling better and yes, it’s wonderful when you see your children following the good examples you set (as opposed to those times when you see/hear them doing something not so lovely and you unfortunately know where they learned it.)
Karmyn has mentioned that her in-laws let the coke sit on the counter until room temp — and THEN drink it.
Mom bought 7-up. To this day I associate the flavor with nausea. (: (and pepto, too. gag!)
But.. I think I offered it to my kids, too.
(the little lego duplo keeps popping out and covering your post when I try to read it. Stay duplo. Sit)
Aw, I love this story!
{taking further notes on awesome things southern woman do…}
Hope you’re all better now sweets.
So sweet, the memories that live on 🙂 In our house it was ginger ale, more blankets than you need and books. Lots and lots of books!
I tell ya…it's taken me longer than I anticipated to feel better :/.
You know, I **almost** explained that in my post (that we Southerners refer to all sodas as Cokes); maybe I'll work it in somehow, cause it might not make sense otherwise…:)
I've seen a few of my not so great habits in my kids, and you're SO right…that can be KILLER!
S o o n those little floatie ads will be a thing of the past, Pamela…they drive me nuts, too :/ (sorry!).
Not *all* better but *almost* :).
Honey, we’ll help fill your list of Southernisms! Guess moving day is FAST approaching, huh? {{hugs}}
I can’t remember books, but these are EARLY memories…surely those were a part as I got older!
How can such a simple action mean so much? Sounds like your BF might just be a keeper :).
Don’t you just love revisiting those old memories?
This brought back some memories for me too. My mom always gave me 7-UP and the bendy straw was always a nice touch. How sweet of your girl to do that for you. Hope you are feeling better now!
Hey Robin,
I think you musta gotten special treatment or something…I don’t remember her doing that for me but I do remember the Ice Crusher. Love you! Jason
Not feeling well and hoping it’s not the start of something. Heading to the fridge now for a pepsi with crushed ice. It does sound like the perfect antidote for my scratchy throat and headache right now – that and some chocolate chip cookies.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Cherry 7Up worked for me. Now I want a Slurpee/Icee when sick, always Coke or whatever regular soda flavor.
I can also remember my mother’s remedy for being sick was always a cold glass of 7-up and tomato soup and crackers. I actually looked forward to being sick with the attention it brought. I used to look at my stomach regularly to see if perhaps a rash of measles was coming on. Hee hee. We didn’t drink a lot of pop when I was young so it always was a treat.
Oh yes, and now I love nothing better than a cold glass of crushed ice with either a Pepsi or Coke. Either one works.
Great post. I hope you’re feeling better.
This is truly an awesome post!! I remember those days…my mom bringing me coke with ice. It made my entire world better!! Thanks for reminding me of this!!