I remember hanging off the front on the shopping cart while my mom looked down into the ice cream freezer at the grocery store. I recall her being hit with a trifecta of emotions—a mix of awe, confusion, and disgust—when I suggested “vanilla” as today's flavor of choice. I knew better than to suggest something so ordinary. My mom had raised my sister and I, consciously or not, to believe that you do not select vanilla when pecan praline, rocky road, blueberry cheesecake, or gooey chocolaty something or other is also on sale. I don’t think my mom meant it as an allegory or life-lesson, but doubtless the ice cream choosing experience had that effect on me. My "take away" was that vanilla was simple and plain and boring, and that it would be a far better idea, and a better bargain, to have something snazzy and full of stuff. As we grew older, my sister and I came to embrace that in life, as in ice cream, butter brickle or other fancy flavors are superior to plain vanilla.
Well, today, in the middle of winter, I bought vanilla ice cream. Yes, mother, plain vanilla.
Not french vanilla, vanilla bean, or the double vanilla and homemade vanilla that now grace our grocery display cases; just, “vanilla.”
And, having made such a selection (and partaken of the same), I challenge anybody to convince me of the inferiority or dullness of plain vanilla—in the ice cream world, or in the bigger metaphor of life. Chocolate peanut butter and mocha almond fudge are yummy; a scoop of bubble gum or rainbow sherbet is a welcome treat; and, how could ya go wrong with cookies ‘n cream or coffee. But, if you’ve got to choose a flavor for every day, I’d say vanilla is quite nice. So it is in life, as in ice cream, I say.
Oh for the love of plain vanilla days--the perfunctory, uneventful days that involve a healthy body and mind, employment, food, fresh air, peace, and being loved. For me, plain vanilla is waking up with Atticus and Catcher sprawled across my legs in bed, a cup of brewed coffee and maybe even a bit of the Today Show as we anticipate the day ahead.
And, having made such a selection (and partaken of the same), I challenge anybody to convince me of the inferiority or dullness of plain vanilla—in the ice cream world, or in the bigger metaphor of life. Chocolate peanut butter and mocha almond fudge are yummy; a scoop of bubble gum or rainbow sherbet is a welcome treat; and, how could ya go wrong with cookies ‘n cream or coffee. But, if you’ve got to choose a flavor for every day, I’d say vanilla is quite nice. So it is in life, as in ice cream, I say.
Oh for the love of plain vanilla days--the perfunctory, uneventful days that involve a healthy body and mind, employment, food, fresh air, peace, and being loved. For me, plain vanilla is waking up with Atticus and Catcher sprawled across my legs in bed, a cup of brewed coffee and maybe even a bit of the Today Show as we anticipate the day ahead.
Then, its morning chores, followed by a run, sweeping the floor, hours in front of the computer, followed by a walk with the dog, breathing fresh air, and coming in to a warm house to partake of microwaved leftovers in front of the TV, a few hours of legal/crime dramas at night, then teeth brushing, face washing, the same bed, and an alarm clock going off in the morning with the same items on the agenda.For me, on the plain vanilla days, I often think maybe I’m missing out on something, should or could have a more interesting life, or am just plain boring or lazy...maybe, what I should be thinking is simply that I have a pretty good life. Vanilla, most of the time, but scrumptious nonetheless.
For many, plain vanilla may be getting kids ready for school, taking them to and from activities, going to the office, coming home, making dinner, tucking everyone in, answering emails, paying bills, doing laundry, then hitting the bed only to wake up to do it all again tomorrow, maybe topped with the chocolate sauce of a kids’ basketball game, or a birthday party, but still, pretty vanilla. Maybe it's reading, correspondence, walks, visits with the neighbors, trips to the doctor, knitting, and wishing for more companionship. Maybe it's not blue skies, flying kites, or great adventures; but, rather, dirty ol' snow, grey skies, dreary days, and scooping manure...but it's still health, peace, and fresh air.
On a plain vanilla day, I worry about eating too much, not having too little. I stress about getting enough exercise rather than the hours I’ll have to walk to get clean water and carry back home. A plain vanilla day for me involves a healthy body and mind, getting wood to warm the house, and peaceful surroundings. Ah, the luxuriousness of vanilla. Something to be savored.
Indeed, there will always be days where I crave, and choose, chocolate peanut butter, daiquiri ice, or chocolate chip mint, but, that doesn’t take anything away from my belief that life, and the freezer section, would be in a sad state without just vanilla.
My precious neighbors said goodbye to their twelve year old granddaughter, Haley, last week. She had been battling leukemia for much of her short life, with her sister and parents doing and giving everything they possible could to help her to win…and to enjoy the sort of vanilla life that most children get to live every day. For Haley, the everyday consisted of hospitals, needles, tests, treatments, weakness, nausea, and things I can’t even begin to imagine. That was her vanilla. I didn’t know Haley, but I am confident she is trying all good flavors of ice cream these days. And she reminds me that my run-of-the-mill vanilla days taste pretty good in the scheme of things.
When I stopped by to see Haley’s grandma today, she gave me a copy of this poem that Haley had written, and I love the innocence, simplicity, and beauty of it:
I’ll take my plain vanilla days anytime…they are delectable. Though, I've got to admit, I don't mind a chocolate peanut butter day every once in awhile.
Yes, peace is sweet. Sweet like vanilla ice cream, perhaps."Peace is like a swim on a warm day. Peace looks like a sunset on a warm day. It sounds like a dolphin squeaking, and it can be beautiful, but peace is always sweet."
I’ll take my plain vanilla days anytime…they are delectable. Though, I've got to admit, I don't mind a chocolate peanut butter day every once in awhile.
