Orange Jello Salad

It was the morning of July 4th 1995. I was 7 years old. My family always bought enough fireworks to light up the sky for hours. We would spend the day at the lake grilling, swimming, fishing, racing in the water and playing a hide and go seek game. I remember the time as magical and full of wonder.

After a long day at the lake we would go to my mema and papa's house. We would unload our stash of fireworks then go see our grandparents. I would always sneak up behind my mema and scare her. I did this every time I saw her. I don't remember how it became a game between us, but I have been in the lead for a while now. Or maybe she has been letting me win this whole time. Either way this July 4th I ran in through the front door as quietly as possible. I snuck around until I found her, bent over cleaning something. I tiptoed behind her and lightly poked her on the back.

"Boy, I am going to get you!" My mema yelled after me fleeing the scene, "Come back here or you won't get any orange jello salad!"

I stopped in my tracks.

"Healthy ice cream?" I whispered.

I slowly walked back into the room.

"I am sorry, mema."

"Come here." She opened her arms and I came in for a hug.

"Can I still have orange jello salad?" I asked with the cutest seven year old face I could muster, "Please?"

She would squeeze me tight and give me a kiss on the cheek. After that she would release me back into the wild. I would bolt out of the room and go looking for trouble. I tried talking my dad into letting me light the fireworks. He would, of course, deny me once again. I didn't get to use a lighter for another 3 years, and that was still under no supervision.

My dad and mom would fix dinner, usually more grilled food. And after that came dessert and fireworks. The one holiday dessert that reminds me of my summers as a kid has to be orange jello salad. When it came to desserts I always loved jello, but for some reason my mema used orange jello, thus creating my favorite dessert.

The slight twang of the orange brightened up the upcoming heavier ingredients. She would use the liquid out of a can of crushed pineapple, and the juice of a lemon, to make the jello. She would bring the fruit juice, and whatever amount of water still needed, to a boil and pour that over some cream cheese. She would then stir the concoction until the cream cheese was mostly dissolved. Then she would put it in the fridge.

Mema would take the delicious little pineapple chunks and add that to a bowl of the pillowy whipped topping, cool whip. This was then added to the jello, which should not have completely set yet. You then fold the cool whip and pineapple into the jello, making sure to not over whip the ingredients. And then you put it back into the fridge.

While I waited for my generous helping of this heavenly confection I watched as my dad, brother and sister lit the different light bombs. I would sit in absolute amazement watching the sky light up in different colors. Wave after wave of beautiful explosions in the sky illuminated the surroundings. About halfway through the light show I was called into the house. I ran my fastest towards the house, slammed the door …

"Don't slam the damn door!" My father would have yelled.

And ran into the kitchen. There was my used large bowl full of orange jello salad.