After spending nearly two decades at Coca-Cola, it’s probably no surprise that I used to drink Coke like water. About ten years ago, though, I broke the habit. These days, it’s a treat rather than an everyday occurrence, and we rarely keep it in the house.
Well, all of that changed this summer.
Like so many others, Whit and I fell victim to the “crispy Coke” trend. Neither of us has ever been much of a Diet Coke fan, so we gave it our own little twist with Coke Zero instead. And somewhere along the way, it became less about the drink and more about the ritual.
Almost every afternoon, I’ll holler through the house, “Crispy?”
Without fail, I hear, “On my way!”
One of us slices a lime while the other fills two glasses with nugget ice. We pour the ice-cold Coke Zero, grab our favorite lime-flavored edible straws and settle in to visit for a few minutes before the day gets away from us again. It’s funny how something so simple can become one of your favorite parts of the day. Life slows down for fifteen minutes. Phones stay put. We catch up, laugh about something silly and simply enjoy each other’s company.
As senior year approaches, I find myself treasuring little moments like these more than ever. In just a few short weeks, our afternoons will once again be filled with school, golf, homework and all the busyness that comes with life. I already know I’m going to miss hearing that enthusiastic “On my way!” echo through the house.
If you haven’t tried a crispy Coke yet, here’s our version.
Amanda & Whit’s Crispy Coke Zero
Squeeze the juice of ½ to 1 fresh lime into a glass, depending on how many limes are left before the next grocery run. We always toss the squeezed lime right into the glass too.
Fill the glass about halfway with nugget ice.
Pour in an ice-cold Coke Zero.
Then add our favorite finishing touch… a lime-flavored edible straw. We first discovered them on a Disney Cruise, and the boys surprised me with an entire box for Christmas. They’ve become our official crispy straw.
- Flavored straws
- Ice Maker – we’ve had it a few years and are obsessed
Citrus squeezer – best one I’ve ever had; pro tip: squeeze with the cut half facing down to get the most juice
I’m not sure whether I’ll remember the drink years from now. But I have a feeling I’ll always remember these little afternoon dates with Whit. Sometimes the sweetest memories aren’t made on vacation or during life’s biggest milestones. Sometimes they’re made over a glass of Coke Zero in your own kitchen on an ordinary summer afternoon.
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