One of my best memories about childhood is running to catch the ice cream truck. For a whole fifty cents, I could get anything I wanted. Looking at my hips these days, I probably shouldn't have caught it quite so many times.
This summer, I hear the music from afar, and just have to let my own kids get ice cream. I want them to share in the experience of something that may not be around for their own children. I grab a couple of dollars, and we head to the door. Hearing the music get closer and closer, I'm patting myself on the back as a natural born June Cleaver. Finally after much anticipation, it rounds the corner on two wheels.
The boys are so excited, they can hardly contain themselves. Waving their dollars high in the air, the truck gets close enough to read the stickers on the side. As if by natural instinct, each boy lowers his dollar and looks at the other, as if to say "Are you sure?"
Not having had a wash since 1979 (when I bought ice cream), the truck was on a it's last wheel. Not only do we still question the color of the truck (white or gray?) but it's contents as well. You see, Blue Bunny is "Blunny," (due to the middle part of the sticker missing) and Nutty Buddy is just "Buddy." I convince the kids it's ok. It's just the truck....then the window flies open.
Each child insists the other goes first, to see if his sibling makes it back in the yard alive. I walk to the truck window with both boys, and I am instantly ready to fall over laughing. The server has a cigarette literally between her gums. She has all of 3 teeth, with 2 of 'em being in her pocket. Mrs. Driver is brushing her long hair, shedding like a cat.
Thank goodness the ice cream is SEALED. It's not the dip and serve of the olden days. This ice cream is bought ready to sell. Any other time, we would just go to the grocery store for this kind of ice cream. On this day I am very thankful for a seal, assuring myself the kids won't be eating ashes and hair balls.
We pay for the ice cream and come inside. I think to myself that instead of "It's a Small World," the song should be "Ridin' Dirty."
3 comments:
Lol, great post, really brightened up my day, thank you !!
hahaha ridin' dirrrty!
Ice Cream.. Ice Cream.. Ice Cream.. Thanks for sharing this one, I remembered my childhood days.. Reminisce those days when i cried the whole day and night because my mom could not buy me one.. lol.. Oh well.. those were the days.. I can buy one for myself now.. hehe..
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