Hopefully we all have nice memories of past summers, happy times with family and friends. I found myself reminiscing this morning about one of those times.
As I've mentioned, my grandmother ran a tiny grocery store in our neighborhood. One summer we had a long power outage. She bought dry ice in an attempt to save her frozen items. But eventually she realized it was a lost cause. Sounds bad, right? And it may have been for her (I hope she had insurance). But for the neighborhood kids it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. My grandmother was giving away ice cream!!!
We could have whatever we wanted. The ice cream-on-a-stick selections were too far gone at that point. So we each took a half gallon. Chocolate chip was my favorite at the time, so I chose that. I joined the neighborhood kids standing out in the grass, eating our huge containers of ice cream with those little wooden spoons.
That was FUN! And messy. Messier than the times we ate fresh-cut watermelon outside in the yard--spitting seeds at each other. Boys!
I hope we all have some messy fun before summer ends. Maybe this weekend.
Have a great weekend folks!
Such a funny story, but I'm sure it was the most appropriate thing to do at that time. I'm certain the kids in the neighborhood had a blast. Gah, I wish it were always summer. We have the wet season now in PH and it's one typhoon after another. Have a great weekend, Rick!
ReplyDeleteAs the neighborhood kids gathered, for just a second I remember thinking "hey wait a minute, she's my grandmother!" But that passed and it was a great afternoon for all of the kids. It would be nice if we had more of those moments and a perpetual summer!
DeleteI can imagine the happiness you kids felt that fateful day. Free ice cream in tubs on a hot day is every child's dream. Ah, but I cannot imagine the sticky mess. Boys!
ReplyDeleteI've replied to your comments and I know you would check back so I won't be pasting them here.
Such a simple thing, but it really was a moment of happiness, you're right. I hope we're always able to find happiness in such moments.
DeleteThat is a childhood fantasy (and an adult one) come true right there. I am sure there were aching bellies after that but I'm sure it was glorious while it lasted
ReplyDeleteIt really was. I think I'm proof that fun/interesting things happen to even the most boring of people. :)
DeleteWhat a nice summer memory from your childhood, Rick. Have you ever noticed how often it is that a disaster of some sort becomes one of our most memorable moments? Like how we always remember the Christmas tree that fell over, but not any of the ones that remained standing. Of course, in this case it was only your grandma's disaster, but still, it took that to lead to your ice cream bonanza.
ReplyDeleteYou're right...a mix of good and bad. I've shared a fair number of snowstorm related memories. We've had a few memorable tropical storms too. During one a train engineer decided to abondon (right behind my parent's house) the empty coal cars he was pulling. My brother and I decided to climb through each one, racing from one end to the other. I wasn't 100% sure I would be able to get out, but that turned out to not be a problem--until I got really tired at the end. :) We were both covered in coal dust from head to toe.
DeleteHaha total score! Whenever I hear/see an ice cream truck it always brings me back to my childhood. The rocket popsicle used to be my favorite. Recently I discovered that the ice cream truck comes through our neighborhood once in a while. YAY!
ReplyDeletexo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
Ooo, the ice cream truck is a nice memory too. My grandmother didn't like them (since they were competition for her store), so I had to be careful if I ever wanted to buy anything from them. They had soft ice cream and she didn't--except during a power outage. :D
DeleteIt can be furstrating to hear an ice cream truck and not be sure where it is. Sound echoes funny in our neighborhood.
Messy summers, I like that! I can't wait for J to have his first s'mores around the campfire. That's always messy :). And you can't find a seed watermelon in grocery stores today!!! What's up with that?
ReplyDeleteMessy is usually a bad thing, but there are some activities that just have to be messy to be fun. Maybe it helps connect us to chidhood fun. With regard to some things, I hope I'm always a big kid. :)
DeleteI didn't realize that about watermelons. We've been getting ours from my FIL's neighbor the past few years--along with blackberries, hot peppers and silver queen corn.