Resilience

Summary

The text describes the author's personal struggle with resilience against the temptation of ice cream, particularly when an ice cream truck passes by.

Abstract

The author reflects on the concept of resilience through the metaphor of resisting the allure of ice cream. The sound of an ice cream truck playing "Turkey in the Straw" evokes childhood memories of indulging in ice cream with family, including a tradition of earning ice cream treats after dental visits. Despite the nostalgia and temptation, the author proudly declares their resistance to the ice cream truck's siren call, citing their own willpower and the presence of Haagen Daas in their freezer as evidence of their resilience.

Opinions

The author views the ice cream truck's music as a taunting presence that challenges their self-control.
Ice cream holds a significant place in the author's childhood memories, symbolizing both pleasure and bribery.
The author acknowledges the clever use of ice cream as a motivational tool by their mother, particularly in the context of dental appointments.
Despite the temptation, the author takes pride in their ability to resist the immediate gratification of buying from the ice cream truck, seeing it as a testament to their strength and resilience.
The author hints at a personal victory in choosing to enjoy ice cream from their own freezer instead of succumbing to the ice cream truck's charm, suggesting a balance between indulgence and discipline.

And the ice cream trucks that mock me.

{“Resilience” is the writing prompt word to me from Martin Braun-Labossiere today.}

“Turkey in the Straw” is the tune churning from the ice cream truck.

It taunts me. I can hear it blocks away, slowly crawling up every inch of my neighbourhood. Creeping through all the cul-de-sacs, it grows louder and closer!

“You know you want me!” it screams. “I carry precious, firm cold ice cream:

You can have me from a bowl,

you can have me in a cone

Eat me off a wooden stick

I come in every tone.”

Oh no — my brain has turned to terrible poetry as I daydream about a sweet cool stack of chocolate and vanilla. But I resist and show my resilience in the face of temptation!

YOU SHALL NOT HAVE MY COINS TODAY, FOUL TEMPTATION!

My mother was an ice cream nut. She always made sure we had a pail of vanilla or maple walnut in our farmhouse freezer. My sister and I, obsessed with chocolate, would make our own homemade chocolate sauce to encompass large scoops in even larger bowls.

Mom knew also how to wisely use it as a bribe and very appropriately so, in my opinion. Our dentist was located in the same town as the nearest Dairy Queen.

Oh sweet merciful Peanut Buster Parfait!

The deal was: make it through another filling and after waiting the obligatory 30 minutes after the final flouride treatment, we’d get a DQ treat of our choice. (Hmmm, and we wondered why we needed so many trips to the dentist?)

To her credit, it worked and it build resilience through our biggest dread of every Summer. We hated every dental appointment, so I’m sure her own ice cream delight eased her annoyance at having to deal with our whining, too. Come to think of it, she looked pretty pleased with herself, licking her soft-serve cone.

The loud music box tune from that blasted ice cream truck is still ringing in my ears. But I resist and grow stronger, more resilient, through every blaring call of the truck.

Besides… there just happens to be a couple of Haagen Daas beauties in our freezer today. Heh.