Memorial Day – A Good Day for Ice Cream
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a time to honor those who served in the Armed Forces and lost their lives. It’s not just a three-day weekend; it’s a day of remembrance. However, it’s also an opportunity to gather with family and friends. This brings us to the theme of the day: “A Good Day for Ice Cream.”
All the Things
We did all the usual activities for holidays like Memorial Day. We barbecued, spent time with family and friends, laughed a lot, and enjoyed each other’s company. And yes, we ate too much!
After everyone left, I enjoyed one last cone of Neapolitan ice cream. It reminded me of my dad’s stories about making ice cream in the past.
Curious about the name Neapolitan, I looked it up. It originated in Naples, Italy, in the late 19th century, inspired by the dessert “spumoni.” It became popular in the US in the early 1900s, featuring vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors.
Here are some Neapolitan ice cream variations you might find in other countries.
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Neopolitan Flavors in Other Countries
- Mexico – rum raisin and pistachio
- Australia – vanilla, chocolate, and caramel
- India – mango, pistachio, and rose
- Germany – vanilla, chocolate, and hazelnut
- Japan – matcha (green tea), black sesame, and red bean
- UK – vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry
- France – vanilla, chocolate, and coffee
- Sweden – vanilla, chocolate, and raspberry
- Spain – vanilla, chocolate, and caramel
My Dad’s Story
My dad, who passed away nearly four years ago at the age of 98, was a proud veteran. He served in the military during the 1940s. You’d always see his flag flying, especially on holidays. Due to his eyesight, he didn’t go overseas but worked on checking bombers when they returned from missions. During his later years, I would discreetly record his stories, like one about making ice cream, which I captured when he was 96.
Putting Some of His Words into Context
Matt – our youngest grandson who was about 9 or 10 at the time.
Pinedale – a community about 3.5 miles from where our family lived that had a country store and a school.
Carl – Carl Hudson, Daddy’s uncle who was older than him. My dad was an only child during a time when the norm was large families.
Molasses Bucket – metal bucket with a handle that molasses syrup came in, a half gallon to gallon in size.
Candleflies – after bringing the ice back home and making ice cream, it would take them until after dark. Candleflies are the bugs that collect around a light source like a porch light or lantern. So the ice cream wasn’t finished until after dark on those days.
Cigarettes – my Dad smoked from about age 12-13 to 97, only because that last year he was in a nursing home and not allowed to smoke. He didn’t even have COPD when he died, but he fell, broke his hip, and passed away a few days later. He did have a long history of prostate cancer which probably contributed to his death.
Bettye – my good friend Bettye had sent Daddy some homemade peach ice cream that he thoroughly enjoyed that day.
Recording History
Memorial Day and other holidays, when we spend time with family, is a perfect time to record your parents or grandparents’ stories. I recorded some, but I could have done more. Our phones are always by our side now. I wish I had had one when my mother was just cooking in her kitchen or telling a funny story. She’s been gone now for almost 24 years and there is precious little video of her.
I hope you had time to spend with family and friends this Memorial Day weekend)))
record history
Personal Life History Questionnaire
I had never really given much thought to a personal life history until my dad’s death a couple of years ago. He resided in a nursing home for a little over a year before he died ……
