This is what I wish I had the "stuff" to write. You took a piece of your day, put it into words, and EVEN made it enjoyable, which to ME (considering what happens when I try to do this) is super impressive. I love ice cream trucks too.
Thank you for your time. As a child I never had the chance to eat ice cream from a truck. So as an adult I still like to wonder down to the local pizza place and indulge the grandkids a treat, even the teens tag along after a long swim in Matt and Pegs pool even though it's been at our house since Matt passed. Thank you for your stories they bring happy memories.
As you know, I think about this all the time. Why am I doing this? Why am I writing? All of it sometimes feels like dropping pennies into a pond. Not much happens except you get to watch it sink. Then someone in town says to me, out of the blue, "I love your newsletter." And I think, "Oh, I'm writing it for them." And I read something that makes me smile or cry or see the world in a different way or feel a little less alone. Then I remember, right, I'm giving back to that big conversation. Because what if the person who wrote that amazing thing I'd just read had decided it wasn't worth it? That it was pointless? Rebecca Solnit said, (she might have been quoting Walter Benjamin) that writing is one of the most hopeful things we do. So I try to remember that.
Hi, Ellen. I was just thinking yesterday that it had been awhile since your last post. I love this one. It brought back memories of the narrow street on the lower east side of Detroit where my world awareness began. Baseball in the back alley, ice skating on a neighborhood rink, walking to the corner store, lots of kids my age. Ice cream trucks and so much more. Thanks!
Ellen,thank you ! This post lifted my mind out of the pit it was trying to fall into this morning! Your words have a special way to sooth and restore! Memories pop up and put a smile on my face! Never stop writing.
The way you take the commonalities of life and remind us of the preciousness of such events/happenings continues to bring great pleasure. Thank you for being you, and such a beautiful writer/communicator of these experiences.
I'm glad to hear that you took the opportunity to meet the ice cream truck. I have to admit that I have never done so, though your story has encouraged me to try it the next time I get the chance.
Loved it, especially the photo. When I was young, we had 2 ice cream trucks that came regularly, Good Humor and Spider, which were the same style as the one in the photo, but the Spider had a huge painting of a black spider on the sides. They had a string of sleigh bells that the driver would jingle that brought the kids out running. Spider gave out a card with the spider picture on it for each purchase, and 12 got you a free popsicle. I remember rummaging through my mom's top dresser drawer to find enough for a free one.
This is what I wish I had the "stuff" to write. You took a piece of your day, put it into words, and EVEN made it enjoyable, which to ME (considering what happens when I try to do this) is super impressive. I love ice cream trucks too.
Thank you for your time. As a child I never had the chance to eat ice cream from a truck. So as an adult I still like to wonder down to the local pizza place and indulge the grandkids a treat, even the teens tag along after a long swim in Matt and Pegs pool even though it's been at our house since Matt passed. Thank you for your stories they bring happy memories.
As you know, I think about this all the time. Why am I doing this? Why am I writing? All of it sometimes feels like dropping pennies into a pond. Not much happens except you get to watch it sink. Then someone in town says to me, out of the blue, "I love your newsletter." And I think, "Oh, I'm writing it for them." And I read something that makes me smile or cry or see the world in a different way or feel a little less alone. Then I remember, right, I'm giving back to that big conversation. Because what if the person who wrote that amazing thing I'd just read had decided it wasn't worth it? That it was pointless? Rebecca Solnit said, (she might have been quoting Walter Benjamin) that writing is one of the most hopeful things we do. So I try to remember that.
Ellen, thank you for this lovely story… just what I needed this morning!
Oh thank you for letting this one fend for itself!! I fully enjoyed your musings!
Hi, Ellen. I was just thinking yesterday that it had been awhile since your last post. I love this one. It brought back memories of the narrow street on the lower east side of Detroit where my world awareness began. Baseball in the back alley, ice skating on a neighborhood rink, walking to the corner store, lots of kids my age. Ice cream trucks and so much more. Thanks!
Ellen,thank you ! This post lifted my mind out of the pit it was trying to fall into this morning! Your words have a special way to sooth and restore! Memories pop up and put a smile on my face! Never stop writing.
"In the moment" writing, and living.
Makes me wonder if Ram Dass or Buddha could have worked in ice cream trucks to the teachings...
Thanks for this portend of summer coming.
The way you take the commonalities of life and remind us of the preciousness of such events/happenings continues to bring great pleasure. Thank you for being you, and such a beautiful writer/communicator of these experiences.
That's really "Good Humor" 👍
I'm glad to hear that you took the opportunity to meet the ice cream truck. I have to admit that I have never done so, though your story has encouraged me to try it the next time I get the chance.
I really enjoyed your story but wondered why you weren't more engaging with the man's wife Teri as she truly attempted to engage you.
Great story Ellen, it helps us all too to take a moment out of our lives and read your posts.
Loved it, especially the photo. When I was young, we had 2 ice cream trucks that came regularly, Good Humor and Spider, which were the same style as the one in the photo, but the Spider had a huge painting of a black spider on the sides. They had a string of sleigh bells that the driver would jingle that brought the kids out running. Spider gave out a card with the spider picture on it for each purchase, and 12 got you a free popsicle. I remember rummaging through my mom's top dresser drawer to find enough for a free one.