When Life Hands You Lemons

EAST COUNTY — East County resident Caroline Birch could have done anything she wanted on her 12th birthday Friday, Aug. 3.

But after much deliberation, Caroline, a resident of Greenfield Plantation, opted for something different than on birthdays past.

Joined by friends and family, the Haile Middle School student stood at Lakewood Ranch Main Street donning a white T-shirt with yellow duct-tape letters spelling “LIFE,” as she handed lemons to any passersby who would accept them.

“I saw this picture online awhile back for things to do before I die — a ‘bucket list,’” Caroline said. “I thought it would be fun, but I never thought about doing it at the time.”

But as her birthday approached, Caroline realized it was the perfect opportunity to check the item from her own list.

“She’s a very positive kid,” Caroline’s mother, Angel, said, as she watched her daughter in action. “She thought it would be funny, and it would be a gift to people. Of all days, she picked her birthday to do it.”

Caroline, who tends to be a little shy, was uncomfortable at first, but her friends, Noah and Logan Godfrey, who were visiting from out of town, stood alongside her, passing out lemons and even trying to juggle the fruit, at times.

“The first time (I tried to hand a lemon to someone) I was really nervous,” Caroline said. “It’s been easier since then.”

Although she got plenty of “No thank yous,” Caroline also got plenty of “Sure, why nots?” as she walked up to people, lemons in hand, and said, “Hi, my name is life, would you like a lemon?”

“I almost didn’t take it, because I thought there was a catch,” said Lynne Rissler, who accepted a lemon from Caroline as she and her friend, Janice Gillogly, walked past the youth in front of Village Bikes on Main Street. “When times are tough, it’s good to have people encourage you, and this represents that.”

Gillogly agreed, recalling Caroline’s explanation: “If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

“Just that quote in somebody’s face, brings a smile,” she said. “There’re no strings attached. I thought it was cute.”

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].