Monday, May 23, 2011

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!

29 comments:

  1. That is awesome! I would buy ice cream from you everyday just because your truck rocks - so much cooler than the ice cream trucks in our area. Which don't go up and down neighborhood streets, they sit at the beach instead.

    Thanks for linking up with the Magnificent Monday blog hop! I hope you enjoyed all of the great blogs that are participating!

    Your guest host,
    Emily from Nap Time Is My Time

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  2. Ice cream truck!!!!! love! love! love! :)

    following from the magnificent monday blog hop! I'd really love it if you can follow back :-D

    http://spanishpinaynanay.blogspot.com

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  3. Come Pass by at our home. I'll by all that you have got :)

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  4. Okay, it's heading into Winter here but I now want an ice cream from Lazy Sue!

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  5. What an awesome way to spend a summer. I love it!

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  6. For me it is the birds noisily chirping outside.

    Sadly I don't get to hear the noisy ice cream trucks anymore in our area. But hearing the children shouting when it comes, tells me summer is really here.

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  7. Oh Man!!!! I want an ice cream truck! Maybe that's what I'll do when I retire. Heaven knows - it's summer 9 months out of the year down here in Texas!

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  8. Oh my gosh, that is crazy, I love it! I am following you back! I was definitely in your shoes as a broke graduate student. No health insurance, and no money. I wish I had learned couponing back then. Have a great week!
    Brooke
    http://www.theintentionalmomma.blogspot.com/

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  9. There is nothing more exciting than ice cream trucks!

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  10. Hi, My name is Cassie and I'm an Ice Cream Zombie.

    I wish I could have an ice cream truck, but then again, I would just eat as I rode along and wouldn't have anything to sell. What a disappointment to all my fellow ice cream zombies. Nothing left for them. (I would feel so bad as I polished off that last screwball...lol)

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  11. That is awesome! I am totally jealous of your adorable ice cream truck.

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  12. Following you back from FrugalontheCheap.com, thanks for visiting!

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  13. Ice cream zombies! Love it! I've seen those kids! Following you back from the blog hop. I'm really not sure what marks summer in Michigan... maybe when the kids trade in the hockey skates for alley hockey and roller blades?

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  14. Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am already a follower and reader of yours :)
    www.divvyupdiva.com

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  15. Ok now I seriously want an ice cream truck. I think that would make me the coolest mom in the neighborhood.

    Following from the Monday blog hops and I am really looking forward to your posts. you are too funny and remind me of myself as a poor broke grad student!

    Elizabeth @ http://ithappensatdinner.blogspot.com/

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  16. Oh I'm jealous... We're just going into Winter, and I love a good ice cream truck! My first sign of summer is the smell in the air... as you said, the scent of freshly cut grass, and all the trees and flowers slowly coming back to life after months of hibernation. It's also the sound of people emerging from their houses after long, dark, wintery months, looking somewhat moth eaten and extremely pale... Sigh.. I love summer.

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  17. OK...1. I didn't come from a blog hop. I came because I love your blog. 2. I love your blog even more now that I know you own an ice cream truck. 3. I admire the fact that you shared something so personal and hard last post, and so perfectly fun this post. 4. I also admire the fact that after everything you went through with your adoptive father, that you work part time with the mentaly ill. I would have thought you had your fill of crazy. 5. Email me an address so I can send something for the donation cup.

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  18. Hi there! Thanks for stopping by! I was already following you from Render Me Mama!

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  19. Swinging by from FMBT! Hope you'll come follow us back:)
    Michelle and Tori
    http://stainedglassbutterflies.blogspot.co

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  20. Awesome! I love this post! The trade/donation jar is so sweet! Following you back :)

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  21. woo hoo for ice cream!!!! summer... where are you??? it's still chilly in CA!!!

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  22. It is a great day at Mom to Bed by 8. I hope you will return the visit soon!

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  23. Stopping by from the hops to say hello.
    Join me for Deal Seeking Tuesday to share tips and deals.
    Have a great day!
    POSH.
    http://poshonabudget.com/2011/05/deal-seeking-tuesday-3.html

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  24. Totally cool ice cream truck! I love it!


    mywarpedworld.blogspot.com

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  25. This is one of the best blog posts I have read in ages! I see using the phrase 'ice cream zombies' all of the time from now. Thanks.

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  26. What a great post and a cute ice cream truck!

    Following back from the Monday blog hop! Thanks for following me :)

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  27. OMG I would love to have my own ice cream truck :).
    Thanks for the follow.

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  28. What a terrific ice cream truck :). My kids go into ice cream zombie mode too and they have barely had any ice cream from an ice cream truck! Lol. What a terrific job :)

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