The moment they hear the ice cream man’s bell, children begin licking their lips. But they are not necessarily the only ones drawn to the sound. And why should they be?
In a popular Sesame Street sketch, Ernie asks Mr. Ice Cream Cone Man for a chocolate, strawberry, peach, vanilla, banana, pistachio, peppermint, lemon, orange, butterscotch ice cream cone. Expecting the scoop of chocolate to be on the top and the butterscotch to be on the bottom, Ernie is disappointed when he is given a butterscotch, orange, lemon, peppermint, pistachio, banana, vanilla, peach, strawberry, chocolate ice cream cone.
Whether or not you allow him to come out and play, locked deep inside of you is the boy you used to be and, quite possibly, still wish you were. And, even though you stopped watching Sesame Street several years ago, there is no denying that you continue to eat ice cream. You may like to eat it in cones and dishes, as well as on sticks and between two cookies. Then again, you may be as fussy as Ernie, but you have every right to be. When it comes to something as satisfyingly sweet as ice cream, why settle for anything less than your heart’s desire?
August is a great month to attend outdoor weddings and host backyard barbecues. It is also the perfect time to gobble down a frozen treat with the mix-ins, sauces, syrups, and toppings that keep you coming back for more. Whether you prefer to buy ice cream at your favorite grocery store or ice cream shop, make it yourself at home, or wait for the ice cream man’s truck to make its way down your street, you are never too old to enjoy it just the way you like it.
You are probably now wondering about my ice cream preferences. To be completely honest, Ben & Jerry’s products have a way of creeping into my diet. And, of all the ice cream shops I have visited, Papa Jack’s — located on West Main Street in Victor, NY — is probably the best. In addition to their very reasonable prices, their portions are huge and there are countless flavors from which to choose.
Obviously, ice cream is delicious and refreshing at any time of the day, but I think there is something particularly fun about eating it at night. Be that as it may, different people perform different evening rituals. Some get down on their knees and say a special prayer, while others make a wish when the clock strikes 11:11. In college, a close friend of mine told me that the best way to have sweet dreams is to eat something sweet before going to sleep. Her claim may not have been rooted in science, but I never doubted it for a second.
If that makes me silly, I blame the little boy who lives inside of me — the one who repeatedly experiences nighttime ice cream cravings which he finds virtually impossible to ignore. 
Image credit: Steve Revare
Jared Scott Tesler is a Rochester-area freelance writer.