ICE CREAM My Way

© Joy Krauthammer

ICE CREAM  My Way

- Joy Krauthammer

All winter

I had not bought

a container of soy ice cream.

Now it’s middle of spring.

I put on weight

with ice cream I ate

last summer and fall.

Today I treated myself

to a new ice cream.

It was my joy.

I never buy dairy ‘ice cream’.

I buy soy ice cream,

always the same flavor at Trader Joes.

Soy Chocolate Chip Cherry,

quart sized

similar to Ben and Jerry’s,

--the real stuff.

I buy Trader Joe’s

Soy Creamy Mini Chocolate Sandwiches

Non-dairy Frozen Dessert 2.3 oz. each

in measured amounts

the same way I buy individual small

1.5 oz. packages of nuts.

They set for me, Gevurah / limitation.

At Trader Joes

I shop for groceries.

I trust them.

I recycle my brown bags.

I like the employees,

the small store size

and less options

and what they sell,

ethnic foods.

Kosher chicken skinless breasts!

So much food which needs

no preparation.

Easy for one person household

and for ‘pot-lucks’.

Yes, I nuke my ‘food’.

Couple days ago

Seeing an ad

I allowed myself

a visit to the freezer section of

the big grocery.

I shop there for bottled water.

Wow, at the big grocery

reduced price on Ben & Jerry’s Vermont’s finest

pint of  Chocolate Fudge Brownie

FroYo Chocolate Low Fat Frozen Yogurt

with Fudge Brownies.

I allowed myself to buy it

after comparing calories

with something more extravagant.

I splurged.

I didn’t wait until I got home.  Shh.

In the car, as I drove

reached over for the grocery bag.

Grabbed the FroYo,

removed the circular cardboard lid,

raised the pint, palm sized

cool container to my lips

and bit into the top of

yummy flavorful frozen firm ice cream.

It softened as I held it

making it easier to devour.

Dark ice cream must have been all over my face.

What were other car drivers thinking

as they saw the container in my face?

Would they think I was disgusting?

I was proud of my resourcefulness

not having a spoon in the car as I drove.

I have never seen anyone do this.

As the ice cream softened

I squeezed the container

and melting,

the delight oozed up from the sides

toward the top

cooperating with my desire

to slurp.

Two sittings

I consumed the container contents.

Now empty, the round carton

is outside in the trash.

No more evidence of my atrocious act.

I must have needed a treat.

I had a tough week.

Trying. Upsetting. Shocking.

And I was in physical pain.

For healing I took myself

for a Chinese reflexology and

acupressure massage,

and ice cream.

How would you feel

if your iMac computer had eaten

without a spoon

ten thousand of your photos, and

thoroughly messed up the remaining nine thousand
deleting all data

which had taken seven years of your life

with passion and care

to create, name, title, and organize well?

Did I tell you
I bought two containers

of ice cream?

I never go to Starbucks

but

the grocery sold on sale also

a pint of Starbucks

Peppermint MOCHA ice cream,

Swirled with Dark Chocolaty Chunks

Seasonal favorite, Limited Edition.

That means it is now and not later.

There’s a NOW lesson in this.

I love mocha and peppermint.

It’s even Kosher, dairy.

Today at home

I did the same.

It’s only me at home

and I gave myself permission

to eat the ice cream

with my mouth in the container.

Like a giant ice cream cone.

But I didn’t lick it.

It’s not so easy.

The ice cream was awesome.

Great flavor combination.

I can have chocolate with cherry

any ol’ day.

I savored and indulged in

mocha and peppermint.

Reminded me of delicious

Starbucks’ samples

of the same flavor coffee drink combination

with whipped cream

I had at a park festival last year

on my birthday.

I never drink coffee.

In two weeks it’s my birthday.

Seasonally, I celebrated today.

I ate less than 20%

saving more for later.

Will it last me to summer?

Another time, I’ll go back

to same ol’ Soy Mini Sandwiches.

2011
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