I was sitting here reading the Dope just now when I heard the unmistakeable musical tones of an ice cream truck. I don’t think I’ve seen one since I left Long Island almost 17 years ago. The sound always brings back fond memories of my childhood. My parents often bought us those little prefilled vanilla-and-chocolate ice cream cups as treats in the summer. I remember my dad jogging after the truck one day when I was about 4 years old to buy ice cream for me and my sister.
Anyway, I looked out my window of my apartment and saw two women in evening gowns getting into their car. They watched the truck as it pulled into our complex. Suddenly one of the women kicked off her heels, threw on a pair of flip flops and dashed over to the truck, cash in hand. She actually jumped up and down and clapped her hands as the driver handed her a soft-serve cone. It was too adorable – she went from sophisticated woman-on-the-town to happy-go-lucky 5 year old in about two seconds.
It’s amazing how a little bit of nostalgia can change your mood.
Come to my neighborhood, the epicenter of the ice cream vendors in Austin. We got the guys with the push carts, the guys on the bikes with the built in ice chest and multiple trucks all duking out for what must be a huge business. I just watched two truck drivers stare each other down right on my corner, all the while blasting their opposing tunes: Turkey in the Straw and something else that is punctuated by a voice going “Hello? Hello?”.
I’m not sure what the tune was that they played in every truck since I was a kid until I was an adult, but I think it kind of sounded like The Barren Rocks Of Aden. Does anyone know which one I’m thinking of?
I went to this site and entered d’‘4 d’‘4 c’‘4 c’‘4 ais’4 d’‘4 f’4 ais’4 a’4 c’'4 f’4 and this was the first hit.
Seems like I’ve mostly seen the guys with the little push carts and jingly bells around apartment complexes with a large percentage of Hispanic residents. Wonder if that’s a Mexican culture dealio?
Our Ding Dong Cart (when did they start calling them that?) has been coming through our trailer park for over a month now. There was still snow on the ground the first time I heard it. Of course, this is the same area where yard sales happen even in 1’ of snow.
I don’t mind it. I don’t get totally excited about it. Ice cream trucks were one of those things I never experienced as a poor kid living in a not so great neighborhood. Even if they had been bothered to come to our neighborhood, none of us could have afforded it anyway.
However last week, just about 5:00 pm, I was lying in bed trying to sleep. I had to work that night. I was tired. I couldn’t fall asleep. Then, the Ding Dong Cart came through, blaring that goddamn Small World song. I spent the next 4 hours lying in my bed, completely unable to sleep because that stupid song was repeating itself in my mind. That was the only day the driver played that song. I hope to god he never does it again.
Now summertime’s here babe, need somethin’ to keep you cool,
Ah, now summertime’s here babe, need somethin’ to keep you cool.
Better look out now though, Trip’s got somethin’ for you!
I’ll tell ya what it is . . .
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by
I’m your ice cream man, stop me when I’m passin’ by.
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy!
Now hold on a second baby . . .
I got bim bam bananas, Dixie Cups
All flavors now and Push-ups too!
I’m your ice cream man baby, stop me when I’m passin’ by,
See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy! *
Tripler
*All my flavors are. . . guaranteee-heeheehee-heeheehee-heeheeheeeeeeeeaahd to . . . sat. . . is. . . fiiaaahahhhhhh. . . *
My kids go literally insane for the ice cream man. One came by on Saturday and they got ice cream and begged him to come back tomorrow. They’re exhibiting Cargo Cult behavior towards the whole thing, even though they can walk a block to a 7-11 that has many of the same ice creams as the truck.
My region hosts the truck that delivers the best goddam soft serve ice cream on the planet. When he comes to the office, you see a bunch of professionals turn into five year olds. When he comes to my neighborhood, you get to see the neighbors you haven’t seen all winter.
We’ve got a local old school ice cream truck that cruises our neighborhood. I’m convinced that he’s selling drugs because he drives way to fast. I’ve never been able to catch the guy. By the time I’m down at the street, he’s already gone. He never backtracks to give you a second chance.
so, for those who dont play piano, or know how to pick those notes out in any format on that webpage, WTF is the tune? Maybe give a name or even better a link that will actually play the tune?
I spent a good half an hour last week hearing the kids next door screaming “Mom, give me some money! Ice cream man!” The truck around here is pretty spiffy looking, much better than the clunker that putters down the street back home nowadays.
Ice cream seemed so much cheaper when I was younger! Now I look at the truck and think “Wow, for the price of one fudge bar, I could just go to the store and get a whole pint!” That’s when I knew that I was an adult.
During my stay in Kyoto, you could tell who the international students were from America apart from those who weren’t. Whenever one of the weird sounding trucks went by (I think they were advertising recycling? Or kids being safe? Or something…the voice was garbled by the strangely creepy music) all of the American kids would become alert and perk up, all thinking “Ice cream man!..Ice cream man?” while all the other kids probably wondered why we looked like we had just heard a dog whistle.
Ah, springtime, and a youngish Doper’s mind turns to thoughts of itinerant ice cream trucks!
We have two trucks which regularly come through our neighborhood in good weather. Once it gets really warm and our screen windows are open all the time, our boys develop hearing that would be the envy of an Elf or a Vulcan (much better, oddly enough, than when we call them from one freakin’ room away to come do a chore ). We don’t get them ice cream every time, but often enough that they get excited. It should be a special treat, not an everyday thing, IMHO. If it’s not long before their next meal, we sometimes make them put whatever they bought in the freezer until after the meal.
*
Does anyone have any brain bleach I could borrow?
