OK, ya old farts. Who here remembers the 'soda shoppe', in your hometown? Or, were they just something in small rural places? We actually had a couple in my hometown. Want a Coke?.....the 'soda jerk' would grab the cup, put in a few squirts of Coke syrup, then hit it with the carbonated water gun!! Maybe throw in a squirt of cherry flavor also. It's the way Coke was made in those places, IF they were authentic.
Mom or Dad would always run to town during (so-called) flu season and grab a cup of the Coke syrup. I don't know if it actually helped any after a few good heaves, but it was the only thing that would stay down, and it was tasty!! Only a tablespoonful.