Once upon a time–or, really, about twelve years, twenty pounds, and a box of hair dye ago–I worked at an ice cream shoppe.
I took a certain pride in my important, dessert-based work.
Candy combinations. Cream in the hopper. Icing perfectly dolloped.
I was good at it.
And even though it was “just a job”, it got me through college.
It was, in a lot of ways, my home.
I spent hours with those people. Laughing. Discussing life in all its uncertainty. And I will never see them again. It’s most unlikely, anyway. That, or we would simply fail to recognize each other.
And it’s funny: more than a decade later–two degrees, a teaching career, a marriage, dozens of plane rides, and a beautiful son later–I’m a stone’s throw from that same ice cream shoppe.
And when I hear certain albums (namely, Boxer by The National) I’m suddenly back in my Corsica, driving to work. Pulling my almost-black hair into a ponytail, and treating myself to a cold brownie slice as I set up business for the day. Feeling both the thrill and anxiety of my 20s, weaved together in a sort of oddly-comforting blanket.
Little did she know.
(she smiles)
Yes, my friend.
For maybe the best is yet to be. *
. . .
SnapDragon is an educator, artist, and homemaker who enjoys life in the slow lane.
Follow her Two-Bit Musings and more on Snippets of SnapDragon.
*Quote by Robert Browning
Snippets of SnapDragon 
wonderful post, SnapDragon. Sounds like it was a great place to work. Have you been back to the shoppe itself since your college days?
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Thanks, Jim! I actually worked at two different locations, alternating throughout the week. Sadly, one closed a few years back. I have visited the other one a few times. And it just doesn’t taste the same… 🤷🏻♀️
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Too bad it’s not as good as you remember it.
I am always impressed by people who work their way through college – well done!
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Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if they cut corners with some of the ingredients. 😰
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sounds like a race to the bottom…
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Sweet memory. Funny the way random days of our youth float through our heads. I find it happening more often and it makes me sigh at the sweet innocence and naivete that I was completely oblivious to. 😉
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Yes! It’s so bittersweet. 🕊
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Memory is bittersweet but so fulfilling. Thanks for this.
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Absolutely! Too funny, because I just used the word “bittersweet” in another comment. Thanks for reading, friend. 🕊
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Sounds idyllic scooping🍦
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It was a delicious job, for sure!🍦🍦🍦
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