COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — As we all deal with this summer heat, what better time to offer up a sweet story about lemonade – and the relationship between a father and his daughter.
We would say this is a lemons to lemonade story about Ronnie Bell and his daughter Jaelyn. But there is nothing sour about it.
It’s just lemonade and love.
This is how Ronnie and Jaelyn Bell greet customers at their Uptown Market Days Lemonade stand.
“Good morning. Welcome to Light Dreams Lemonade. We hope all of your dreams are light ... and sweet. Today we can make your drink either sweet, unsweet or half and half – half your way and half mine. Today’s flavors are strawberry, pineapple, watermelon, raspberry, ... blackberry, mango, coconut or peach ... what will it be.”
What it will be is the sweetest of father-daughter stories.
Jaelyn and her dad, Ronnie, have been selling lemonade on Broadway for a decade.
They are one of the few Uptown Market Days vendors who have been there for the long haul.
And they have a product that pleases on warm summer mornings. And they have a reason to sell it.
“I have supported them now through the years," said Alford Bunkley, a Columbus pastor "He was out here because his daughter wanted to go to college. And they were raising money. Anytime a young person wants to do something I am willing to help them.”
This all started – you are looking at the first customer to buy a cup of lemonade from Sweet Dreams back in 2014 – when Jaelyn was a second grader.
She is a rising senior at Columbus High School. And one thing has been consistent – selling lemonade on Saturday mornings downtown with her dad.
But they have persisted – building a college fund along the way. You might say building for a rainy day.
As a second grader Jaelyn was not looking 10 years down Broadway.
“I don’t think I really thought about it that far in the future," Jaelyn said. "I would not expect to be here right now.”
Aske Jaelyn why she continues to do this and you get this answer.
“I think it’s a good learning experience," she said. "I have learned a lot from this. I tend to be kind of shy but it has allowed me to open up a little more over time. Overall, it’s a great experience. And it’s also a great bonding experience for me and my dad.”
If Jaelyn wasn’t looking down the road her dad certainly was.
“We have something that people enjoy – they like," Ronnie said. "And they want us to come back. Let’s do this and have a purpose. Save it for college if it’s making enough. You think? Yeah, I think it’s making enough. I was like, ‘OK.’ So, of course, you do the numbers and say, ‘OK, it makes sense. It makes money. Let’s start setting money aside for school.’ And we just took the experience and just used it in every step.”
The beauty of what Ronnie is doing is his is also a reflection of what he has done in the community the last 27 years working for the local Boys and Girls Clubs.
“When I am working with youth in the community by the way of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley, I do understand that I am making an impression upon the community in doing that – and at least that is what I hope, feel and think I am doing – but also what am I pouring into my family?" Ronnie said. "What am I pouring into my young lady? ... She’s growing in the community. What I have learned working with youth in the community to instill those same small but very important values and principles and commitment and dedication and passion. Also, providing that with her on a day to day basis.”
And the lessons have been many.
“It has taught me a lot of things that I will use for the rest of my life," Jaelyn said. "Like talking to people. Like my dad said earlier, going to the bank and depositing money or taking out money. Knowing how to look at things, knowing what I need to get . What’s best of the long term not just buying things just to buy it. I just feel like it has taught me a lot of things I will take with me for the rest of my life.”
And after finishing her senior year at Columbus High, she plans to start that journey to the rest of her life in Athens at the University of Georgia.
Father and daughter both know the days for the Uptown Lemonade business are likely numbered. But Dad’s holding out hope.
Ask Ronnie if he's going to follow her to Athens.
“I think we will get the trailer down there. Look for the yellow trailer with Light Dreams Lemonade on it by Jaelyn Bell," he said.
Jaelyn knows its a possibility.
“I think that would be funny if I saw my dad’s trailer in Athens.”
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