Out at DQ the other day, watching my Dad gobble up a Reese's blizzard, I thought about how much Bill loves ice cream. Ice cream is not hard to love, so that's no surprise. But throughout my life Dad's never, not once according to my memory, turned down the chance to go out for ice cream.
When he and Mom coached my junior softball team -- Beecheler Electric was our name since Dad sponsored us -- Dad would invite the whole team to pile into the back of his truck and haul us all to Zip's in South Amherst. Then he'd pay for everyone's cones: twists, dips, sprinkles. On the way to Zip's we'd all shout, from the back of the orange Chevy, "Beecheler Electric is NUMBER ONE!" even when we lost. While at DQ, Dad recalled these ice cream runs with a smile on his face.
We'd also frequent a place on Route 20 that used to be called Hamner's. This was usually a family outing, and we'd even bring the family dog, Harley the doberman. Dad would always buy Harley a cone and laugh it up as fierce-looking Harley delicately licked -- without chomping -- his baby cone. That sounds kinda hillbilly, but, hey, I guess dogs used to be welcomed at ice cream establishments. Dad could always be persuaded to make a Hamner's run. I remember coming home from college in the summers and asking if he'd want to run out and get a cone. "Sure!" We'd sit at the picnic table in front of the hole-in-the-wall ice cream stand on the side of a busy highway. Sometimes Dad would even order some greasy onion rings before the ice cream. Sometimes we'd share a banana split. But now that I look back, maybe Dad wasn't just an ice cream fiend; he considered those ice cream runs as an opportunity for quality time with kids. That they were.
Quality time was not what he was looking for, though, when he pulled out a gallon from our fridge, grabbed a spoon and ate directly out of the carton. Mom didn't approve, but that didn't deter him. I guess he's both simply a big fan of ice cream and a great Dad.
Let this blog be permission for you to go out as soon as possible on a nice, hot summer day and have ice cream -- cone or sundae! -- in honor of Bill.
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Hello Uncle Bill & Lisa~ We are lovers of anything that starts wit "ice" & ends with "cream". Thats why Gary & I have each gained 15 lbs or so the last few years! As long as we get chubby together its all good! We tell the boys "if your good we'll go for ice cream" & we look at eachother knowing that if they burned the house down we would still say o.k. guys you learned your lesson now lets go get ice cream. We have lots of great memories like you guys too. Funny how ice & sugar can bring a family together. Talk to you soon U. Bill~
ReplyDeleteThe Beecheler Electric Team Rarely lost so most ice cream trips were after decisive wins...that's how I want to rememebr it:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Ice Cream Bill!
Now when I take the kids to get ice cream I don't even order b/c I just have what they don't finish...Jackson especailly is only good for a few licks...Daniel, the younger one, takes great effort in learning how to eat the ice cream cone so it does not run down his hand....2 kids, same parents...How are they different....?
Well he's a man after my own heart! I've been known to eat a 1/2 gallon in four sittings, and to drive out for ice cream for Matt and I when we lost the bet on "if you finish that dinner we'll go out.." I think I got that love from my Grandpa, and it was nice to read this and bring back some of those memories. Here's to more summer days!
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