lucille said:
Jeff:
I am hoping to go to Dayton this year. If you go too, I will bring a pint of Blue Bell on the plane and you can decide. My Dad always said to get the facts first, so no sense debating until you try the Blue Bell.
I think Haagen Daz chocolate is pretty good too.
Well, I have been thinking about this a lot since you posted it. Your dad was right about getting the facts first in most cases. However, I don't think food favorites have anything to do with facts. After you offered Blue Belle, I got to thinking about what made Ben and Jerry's so special for me, so I am going to bore you with a story.
About a hundred years ago, give or take, I was a divorced man raising up three kids on my own. I met a fabulous woman, one brave enough to help me with the task of raising the little ones. She was brave, braver than I have ever been, in my opinion, and yes, i served in the military, so I have a clue about what it takes to be brave.
Anyway, we drove up to meet her family. They live in Vermont. We went up over a 4th of July weekend and spent about 17 hours in the car. Three kids under 7, she and I. We spent the day in bumper to bumper traffic the whole way and when we finally arrived her dad amazed me. We pulled in and met all around. The kids were numb from the road, as was I. Her dad said, "Let's do something special." and loaded us into his Benz, me and the kids and off we went.
Hell, it was my first ride in a Benz, and the kids were sniffing the leather seats like dogs. It would have been embarassing if I had not been so exhausted. We went to a Ben and Jerry's and he bought them all sundaes. All of a sudden, all of us were a part of the family. I cry to think about how they accepted us, strangers, and frankly, not folks that would further their daughter's chances in the world.
So, it's not about just taste, but the memories that we associate with any of the foods we call our favorites. By the way, after a year of separation, that fine brave lady and I are back together. Looking good so far.
