A Story about Friends, Ice Cream, and Home

This is a story about how being away from home is hard, and how, sometimes, 
the cold of winter and all the frustrations and sadnesses 
of an otherwise fortunate life
can add up to be just. too. much.
And homesickness can cover the whole mess like a blanket, and completely overwhelm you.


This is a story about good friends from back home,
who miraculously still think of you and love you, 
even though you've missed half the Skype dates you've ever made,
 and who somehow know that this week, especially, you could really, really use a little bit of home in your life.


So they call Jeni and they ask her to send you their favorite flavors,
all the way to Kansas, to surprise you.
And how you stare at the box and cry for a good five minutes.
(it's the good kind of cry.)



And for just a few minutes on a cold, dreary afternoon, everyone is happy,
because the sink is full of dry ice for the dinosaurs to play in



and there are four pints of Jeni's ice cream on the counter
(whose flavors were written on the container by someone all the way back in Ohio)



and your baby, who is an Ohio girl at heart,
is tasting Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream for the first time.



And you and your bestie are having a little ice cream date in your living room
in the middle of winter, in Kansas.
And she loves it so much (of course she does!)
that she is stealing your spoon, and licking the bowl, inside and outside. 




And how, even though it's not nearly the same as being home,
and sitting in the gorgeous natural light of Jeni's shop,
and enjoying the company of the friend who sent it (and so many more!)
at the end of the day,
Jeni's is still good for your neshama.


(Thanks, Elle.  You rule.)