For an Australian exploring America, a country where so many similarities of behaviour and lifestyle abound, such moments can be few and far between. When these moments do strike, they are the more powerful for being unexpected and are often, as in the following case, mighty entertaining.
It all began on a dark winter’s night when, after being picked up from my Asheville hotel, I found myself in a Kingsport Cheddar’s with L.MiteMaster, his mother, and his sister, A.DrChocBacon.
And not a spelling nor grammatical error to be found!
After perusing the menu and giving our orders to the very perky waiter, he returned with our hot spinach and artichoke dip and our drinks. At this point, I witnessed something rather extraordinary occur. L.MiteMaster’s mother, the incomparably warm and friendly Mrs.C, began concocting a potion whilst chatting amiably to me, her returning-houseguest.
“Might I ask what that is?” I enquired, amazed.
“Why, it’s an LLC! A friend of mine turned me onto them, and they’re delicious. Shall I make you one?” replied she, emanating generosity and friendliness.
At first I demurred but, after gentle prodding, I assented, and Mrs.C called over the waiter.
“May we please have another glass of iced water with a slice each of lemon and lime, as well as a cherry?”
L.MiteMaster smiling benevolently upon my induction into the world of the LLC.
Within seconds (thank you American tipping system), I had the makings of the LLC in front of me. Following the directions of Mrs.C, I squeezed the lemon, the lime, and the maraschino cherry into the iced water, dropped them in, swirled them around, and then added the secret ingredient.
The very secret, very American ingredient, revealed in the following photo:
I spy with my little eye, something beginning with S (and ending with oh-dear-chemically-chemicals).
That’s right, folks. Splenda. And lots of it. Oh, how I giggled as I ripped open packets and stirred them in, listening to Mrs.C urging me to try “just one more”. I squeezed, I ripped, I poured, I stirred, and ultimately, I sipped my own LLC: the Lemon Lime and Cherry.
At that very moment, I felt American.
And at that moment, it tasted good.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
hahaha that’s so true (the cultural differences being even more astounding when they occur in a “familiar” country). when i was in the UK i was continually amazed by little things…ways of gesturing..mannerisms…attitudes…habits…just little stuff I didn’t expect to be surprised by.
in a similiar vein to your story, i had to explain SO MANY TIMES to bartenders how to make a lemon lime & bitters. they’d NEVER heard of it and thought i was completely nuts for coming up with such a wacky combination. “uhh well..it’s lemon…..and lime…..and bitters..?”
I somehow think I’d prefer to stick with LLB over LLC – but the story is great … and I do remember the dark alley in Mauritius!
Hehe I’ve never heard of an LLC so thankyou for enlightening me!
Hehe Splenda! One would never have guessed that! 
Me wants this wondrous LLC beverage! Me wants it now!!!
L-Izzle: I was similarly entertained to discover that Americans don’t know what it means to “shout” someone something, and also feel on a crusade to explain that kookaburra is pronounced more like “cook-ah-bah-rah” than “kook(as in kooky)-er-boor-er”. The road ahead has many obstacles.
Lorraine: I don’t think many people have! It’s a niche American market
Maybe one day I’ll make it for you and astound you with my potion-making skills. 
E.TeacherLord: Methinks what you’d really want is the large bag full of different chocolates currently resting by my feet…
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