The Icecream man in my town in Corozal, Belize, passed away on Wednesday,
and his passing has stirred my soul and occupied my entire morning.
I share the lovely poem that arose at the end of the downhearted week I’ve had.
CURRICULUM VITAE I walked on fluffy clouds of white And failed to see the flowers For when the icecream man came 'round I rarely knew of better hours. My cares were few in yonder days One hot day ushered in another And hung about me the long day, Until a bell told me I matter. I sighed with some supreme delight When by my name, he called me closer "What will it be today, Miss Mart," — (it was always coconut, what else?) No other joy more sweet or tender. So unobtrusive these small joys That bypass us when we're little But there's not a day without one gem That looking back won't brim you afresh. Our souls are strange, farseeing beings, That store the joys of yore-- sans filters That overflow with thanks and giving; Somehow brighten tomorrow's outlook. As months and years pass over me, and I surpass in years the icecream man I dare to raise my song of praise While living hearts can hear me; I find this time a good time, To file my chops and write a ditty So flavored in coconut (what else?) I give thanks to the Icecream man. © selma
Why in such low spirits? We’ve had consecutive days of tremors here in Japan.
We get them all-the-time at odd hours. But the recent ones have quieted the
chatty voice in my head and put me on edge in this silence. I’m feeling lost.
Yesterday, I added to my walk a detour– a dip in the river that cuts the town in
half and runs into the Pacific Ocean. I removed my shoes and socks, pulled up my
skirt, and like a mother goose crossing the street, waddled in close to immerse
my soul in the curriculum vitae, the life-giving properties of that running river.
I let it susurrate to me.
The sky was a vibrant blue with sparse fluffy clouds, so I chantilly walked on. I got
on a train, let it drop me three stations over, and my feet walked me to my fave
second-hand store where I purchased two hardcovers and one paperback book.
It’s not often that I get books in threes, so I went upstairs to celebrate with one order
of fried calamari and one glass of wine. To my great surprise, the day turned dark, and
just as I was thinking that, it poured and thundered.
I waited long until it changed to a drizzle, and I walked home feeling a chill on my
back; my feet soaked. Luckily, my dear husband worked from home and had the good
sense to run a warm bath for me– imagine! I am blessed.
I will sit with my emotions a bit longer, so please bear with me, my lovelies.
I hope you enjoyed knowing this much about me (details I usually reserve to share in
my newsletters) and that, most importantly, you enjoyed the poem to the Icecream
man who lives in my heart as he was in my childhood.
Main Image by CHÂU VIỄN from Pixabay
Thanks for reading. I wish you miracles, all.
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So interested written poem. Lovely words use. So sweet sound in video. . Beautiful frist picture. Very nice you sharing icecream man. I love it’s. Beautiful river that cuts the Town in the half and. run into the pasific ocassion……so interesting lines.
Raj. So happy to know you liked this poem. And the main picture and video too. You even told me the line you liked. I am grateful. Thanks so much. I bless you. xoxo
Luckily, my dear husband worked from home and had the good
sense to run a warm bath for me– imagine! I am blessed.
I removed my shoes and socks, pulled up my
skirt, and like a mother goose crossing the street, waddled in close to immerse
my soul in the curriculum vitae, the life-giving properties of that running river.
I let it susurrate to me.
And you liked these too?! Aww 💕
Yes, 💔
Thanks Selma, 💓 I can reply it’s
You are wonderful. Thanks, Raj.
a beautiful tribute, Selma🙏
*🤗🤍🤗*
Destiny, so happy you thought my tribute to the Icecream vendor was beautiful. Bless you.
blessings your way too🤍🤗
Losing someone we knew as a child is a loss that’s hard to understand or bear. A lovely poem to celebrate the one cream man.
So true, dear Sadje. It touched me deeply. And to add, the photo my sister sent me looked strange to me: I missed seeing him with his brimmed hat on. That is how I remember him. Thanks for reading and commenting, my sweet friend. xo
My pleasure
This is a lovely tribute
JYP, so glad you read this one. Thanks, dear one. Be well, please. I bless you. xoxo
A lovely tribute to the Icecream Man. It is good to ride the waves of our grief, but I do hope you didn’t get too chilled on your walk home.
You are the sweetest for worrying about my walk home. I seem to be fine today; it’s just the broken heart. Please don’t worry too much but thanks my sweet, Heather. Blessing you.
❤️
Those regular visitors of our childhood stay with us always. A lovely tribute Selma. (K)
They are our childhood. And in small towns where everyone knows your name, we are all related. I’m glad you enjoyed reading my words today, K. Have a lovely Friday. xoxo
We often forget to savor those “So unobtrusive these small joys.” They twine through our lives rarely noticed until we stop and give them life. What a joy it must be to walk out your door, catch a quick ride, and roam a book store. We live too far out for that type of delicious adventure. And topping it off with calamari and wine. What a pleasure!
When we’re little we want to hurry and grow up. 😉 But our childhood come along no matter what. Those unobtrusive little joys are keepers.
Yes everything is close. Most days I walk the course of the River and land at the beach. But the train is even closer and it takes me farther.
The second hand bookstore is my fave. But I don’t always find something to buy. That day I was lucky. Three. I had to celebrate. 🥂
Thanks for your lovely comment, dear friend. Sending weekend blessings. XoXo
I appreciate the idea of curriculum vitae, Selma, and for sharing your video and details of your detour with us. Here’s to coconut flavored favorite memories of childhood and the ice cream man!
Lovely, Lynn, my sweet 🍭 glad you watched the video and heard the River song. It was just me and the River that moment.
The ice cream man was a treasure. Little did he know I remembered.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing the details of your day and such a lovely tribute poem. I really enjoyed reading all of this and felt like were old friends chatting across the table. Coconut is the best, by the way!
Aww. So happy you felt my presence that way with this post, Bridgette. Thanks. It will always be coconut, right. Xoxo blessings on your weekend.
Selma, there wasn’t an ice cream man in my childhood, so I am a little bit envious. My parents made homemade ice cream, though. My mother cooked the custard, and my father and we children cranked the hand-turned White Mountain freezer in the basement.
Though I rarely eat more than a spoonful of Robert’s these days, I love ice cream! Coconut, green tea, and chocolate almond are some ice cream flavors I like.
I loved your tribute to the ice cream man! A cherished part of your childhood, he fulfilled your sweet dreams! So nice that he called you by name!
Thank you for sharing a bit of your day, Selma. I am headed next to watch the video. <3
I’m sad you didn’t have an ice cream man in your town. But your parents made sure you missed nothing.
We had no basements or freezers to speak of. We needed an ice cream man. 😃 and he looked just like in that photo except he rode a tricycle thing. Three wheeled cart. And he had a bell. And wore a hat. Always.
My sister sent me a photo of him but I couldn’t recognize him without his hat. That was funny how I even remembered him as he was way back then.
Intact in my memory.
Hope you enjoyed the video. I posted a longer one on Instagram.
Have a lovely weekend. Blessings.
I found the video very soothing, Selma! <3
Aww. Happy you did. Happy Mothers’ Day.
So sorry for your loss, Selma. It sounds like you had a long and friendly relationship with the ice cream man.
I sure did. That’s one good thing about growing up in a small town where ‘everyone knows your name.’ 💕
This is so sweet and a cherished memory of a special friend.. Nicely done Selma! 🥰
That ice cream man was my whole childhood. Thanks for reading. xoxo