The First Official Day Of Summer

"Wait...is that the...oh my god I think it is...."

How do you know it's officially summer?

For some maybe it's the first meeting of your slowpitch softball team, or the scent of freshly cut grass. Maybe it's the first bite of a bbq'd hotdog, or the first time you ride in your car with the windows down. For me? Well brace yourself for another little secret of mine...

Ready?

I own my own ice cream truck.

(Gasp)

Clap your hands.

Do some kind of giddy dance/laugh/facial expression.

Sit back down.

No really, sit back down.

Aaaaand we're back.

See my mom always wanted one since she was little. It was just a life dream of hers from the first time she saw one. It's the perfect business for us, especially someone like myself who goes to school full-time. During the off-season I work night shifts at our local psychiatric hospital, and the flip from days to nights kills me. During the summer I'm my own boss, with a well paying job. My roomates and I even used it as a shared summer job a few years ago. 

Not to say it's not difficult, though. Going 1 mph down the exact same streets you travel down all summer long, in 100 degree weather, while listening to that music...can truly drive anyone mad. But it's our own business, and we're proud of it. My dad never allowed it, so long story short she got a divorce and we built an ice cream truck. Well worth the trade, if you ask me.

We built it from the ground up. Bought a little Cushman truck (basically a 3-wheel metermaid), put on the freezer, music box, speaker system, you name it. I named her Lazy Sue, and she runs (almost) like a dream. Another fun fact? We bought the music box in Mexico, so a set of about 50 songs play in a loop, and they must've run out of ideas so they filled the last 8 with Christmas music. That's right, if you're ever lucky enough to hear an ice cream truck rolling through your neighborhood playing "Silent Night" it just might be me. 

So how do I officially know it's the first day of summer? The first sighting of...

The ice-cream zombies. Kids that hear the music but can't place where the truck is yet. They all freeze at the same time, their lips quivering. No breathing. No blinking. Nothing. Every fiber of their body focused on finding the source of the gypsy music they have ingrained in their minds. Must. Find. Iccccce Creeeeeam.

They're terrifying, and should never be underestimated.

I've even had parents describe to me their 1 year old infants crawling toward the door mesmorized by the sound of the music. "She's never seen an ice cream truck before!" they exclaim. "I wonder how she knew?" Because your daughter is an ice cream zombie, that's how.

It's most entertaining when we see them in an open field separated from the road by a fence. The freeze in the field, see the truck and run straight toward us. And never see the fence. Let me be clear on this. They don't run straight to a nearby gate. They're incapable of thinking that far ahead. They run toward the truck, and if there is an obstacle in their way they attempt to go through it. If there happens to be a gate between us than it makes accomplishing their goal a whole lot easier, but it's by no means a requirement to reach the frozen treat they so desire.

Not so fast grown-ups, don't think you're off the hook. Half the time you're worse. You fall victim to the ice cream zombie curse just as easily (if not easier) than the kids. I can't count the number of times I have been run off the road by a minivan. Or a Ferrari. Or a police officer. Yes, I have been pulled over, on numerous occasions actually, my mind racing trying to recall any possible speed limits I may have broken going 2 mph, only to be confronted by a giddy 38 year old man desperately hoping I haven't sold out of fudgebars yet. 

We also have a small donation cup on the back for children who don't have enough money. The phrase "enough money" covers trade items as well. Lemonade, feathers, leaves, candy, rocks, buttons, lint; these are all acceptable trades for an ice cream bar. Because we don't have the heart to say "no" to a 4 year old who hasn't learned the concept of the economical system, the donation cup allows us to cover kids who are short when they attempt to trade a worm and some Pez for a popsicle.

So folks summer offically starts at the first sighting of the ever so flagrant ice cream zombie. And if my calculations are correct (and if the weather cooperates) summer in Montana will officially start on May 27th :).

What offically marks the start of your summer?

P.S. Don't forget to vote in the poll on the right. For explanation see this post. I'm in your hands!