The Cherry Blossom Cocktail is a classy, rosy blossom of a drink that’s not afraid to jump on the trampoline in the back yard, land on the neighbor’s slip-n-slide, and coast recklessly towards the ice-cream truck where all the kids are gathered for a wholesome snack. Cherry Blossom Cocktail will push her skirt back down and marvel at how her glass is still intact, still half-full. Her theme song, when she comes into the room (or comes tearing down the slip-n-slide), is that jazzy 1950s classic, “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White,” which has a distinct, tipsy sound. The horns section takes center stage with a wa, wa, wa that slides into a sultry mambo.  A rocky start for sure, like falling down the stairs, but recovering with a glide while onlookers say, “She meant to do that! She really is a dancer—a good one.” And then the wa, wa, wa comes back, more tripping ensues, and people are confused, but intrigued.

The cocktail itself is mostly intriguing and not at all confusing. I found an internet recipe that called for a combination of tequila, grapefruit juice, grenadine, and lime juice. You’re also supposed to salt the rim of the glass, but I just dropped a maraschino cherry into the bottom for finesse—and to match the spirit of the drink, which isn’t fussy, but fun—and addictive. It’s hard not to have just one or two. It’s not syrupy sweet, but just sweet enough—and refreshing.

After one or two of these, you’ll want to wear a pink, flouncy skirt, strike up the band, and teeter on the edge of the front porch. You’ll want to fearlessly flirt against a backdrop of wa, wa, wa’s, when the ice cream truck passes by, and you shout, “Hey, there! Toss me a drumstick!”

Cecilia Kennedy once taught Spanish and English courses in Ohio for many years. She now lives in the Greater Seattle area, and writes horror stories. Her blog (Fixin’ Leaks and Leeks: https://fixinleaksnleeksdiy.blog/) chronicles her humorous (and perhaps scary?) attempts at cooking and home repair.