Ice Cream Treats Equals Joy

I’ve discovered a treatment for my end-of-summer blues. Any time I can, I gather as many grandkids as possible and set off for the ice cream shop. Without fail, we engage in a lively discussion as to which ice cream store it will be. Sometimes we find ourselves at Graeter’s, where we compare chocolate chip size from a simple scoop on a waffle cone.

You know we are frequent buyers when the store manager asks if my grandkids would like “the usual.” Turning the cone from side to side trying to catch the melting drips with an eager tongue can be delightful and fun.

Other times we end up at Scoops, where candies or gummy worms can be folded into blue bubblegum-flavored ice cream.

On those days, without fail, we leave with various shades of blue all over their faces and t-shirts. Also, there times we end up at SOYO, where several self-serve frozen yogurt selections overflow the serving bowl. And that’s even before they select sprinkles or M&Ms to top it off.

Here in the southwest Ohio, we have numerous attributes of excellence. I would argue there’s nothing that tops our delicious selections of ice cream stores. As I hear my grandkids try to agree on which store it will be, I think this is a great problem to have.

Whether traditional chip, soft serve or frozen custard, trips to the ice cream store epitomize the experience of summer. Decadent hot chocolate sauce, luscious and rich caramel, or nose-tickling whipped cream can transform any trying day.

I love observing people who find joy at the ice cream store. Hanging outside with my hot fudge sundae gives me an opportunity to relish in the delight that surrounds me. Smiles abound.

I just don’t think it’s possible to remain grumpy when eating ice cream.

Young children ride up on their training-wheeled bikes and park just outside the shop door, dangling their helmet straps from the bike handlebars. Their parents, a few steps behind, encourage them to politely hold the door for those who already have ice cream in tow. The kids, however, are anxious in deciding what flavor they will get, pleading for two scoops. You can see the excitement in their jumping feet.

Groups of young teens hang out, ice cream in one hand, cellphone in the other, laughing and sharing the instantaneous updates from the world of social media. Their giggles reflect their friend-centered world; a world that many of us remember. Others help the walker-assisted elderly navigate their entrance with safety in mind. There is relief when the instability of a challenging gait meets the security of a chair. Anticipation of the sweet reward makes even a difficult journey worth it.

Couples of all ages show up in attire reflecting the relaxation of the day, having shed the suits and heels for T-shirts and flip-flops. Everyone is friendly as they linger in the still-warmed air of August evenings, sharing ease in conversations. The chatter admiring babies in strollers, predicting when the next rain will be, or finding out that you work with that person’s neighbor fill in the crevices of our individual stories, which for me, brings comfort in the linger of summer’s eve.

Life is always better shared with others, especially with ice cream. It’s funny, when I’m outside the ice cream store, I don’t hear the locusts singing the end-of-summer song. Maybe ice cream encourages Mother Nature to put off any chill just one more day. Such chill after all, is better left inside the cone.

Photo by Sheri Sliver on Unsplash