Ice Cream Dreams Do Come True
Yesterday we had our wouldn’t-it-be-awesome-if-there-was-free-ice-cream day. I have to say thank you, thank you, thank you so much to those of you who kicked in. We collected $155 and served free ice cream out of the ice cream truck to at least 65 kids in about forty minutes. The kids really could not wrap their minds around the idea that people they had never met had pitched in to give them a treat. In the end, we decided to tell them it was from the Universe which seemed to go over just fine. Check out these smiles. 
One of the most fun things for me about this whole experience was figuring out how to make it work with Musa, the ice cream truck guy. I had this vision of the two of us sitting on my porch, making lists, drinking beer and high fiving when we’d come up with the world’s best way to give away free ice cream EVER. I’d have his number in my cell, and he’d have mine, and I’d call him to say we’d just gotten a check from some stranger for some ridiculous amount of money and that the ice cream day was ON and we’d both start whooping it up over the phone. Then after free ice cream was old news he’d come over in the winter to talk when he was bored or thinking about a new job or to tell me something thrilling like his mother was coming from Guinea or that he and his wife had just had a new baby. I’d move junk off a chair and tell him to sit down, tell me everything, and then I’d think of something to say that made him laugh. From the free ice cream to the rest of our lifelong friendship, the whole idea made me so, so happy. Just typing it now still makes me smile.
But things didn’t really unfold the way I imagined. For starters, Musa might have thought I was insane. I told him about the free ice cream idea (with feeling!), invited him over, gave him my cell phone number right away so he could call me later TODAY to figure out a plan! He answered in little half sentences, the way you do when you’re talking to a teacher or trying to be polite or feeling horribly overwhelmed–and then quietly drove away. We had this conversation (me talking, Musa listening) several times over the next few weeks each time with me saying, “I’m SO serious about this!”–my intensity not helping the situation one bit. It also was slightly problematic that I didn’t have the money yet and had no idea how to actually organize something like this.
But after a little while Musa not only decided I was serious, he also recognized I needed direction. One lucky afternoon, he brought over a poster with all the different kinds of ice cream so I could see everything he sold off the truck, and a plan of sorts. He was no longer freaked out by the way I ran down the street chasing after the truck when I wanted to talk to him, and I understood he was probably never leaving that truck for beers or lists on my front porch to be my best friend forever. And we both realized (him early, me late!) than I probably wasn’t going to receive a million dollars to give away ice cream to every child in the county. We would throw this thing together as best as we could and it would be just fine. Having this worked out gave me the courage to ask my neighbors and all of you for the actual cash–even at the last minute!–and we got everything we needed for a perfect afternoon surprise for the kids.
I arrived at school yesterday with $150 in singles and sat on a cooler inside Musa’s truck. Musa worked the window, and I slipped him the singles cone by cone according to plan. No complicated accounting, lists or beer necessary. Madeleine organized the line, spread the word and Anne took pictures. The whole thing was great. After everything was over, I sat on the benches and chatted with the Ethiopian moms who had decided I was very late in inviting them over to my home. I told them they could only come if they pretended to be blind because the mess in my house is about that bad and everybody laughed.
I almost forgot to say good-bye to Musa as I sat there with those ladies making jokes. But he did not forget me. I looked up just in time to see him waving (enthusiastically!) and smiling at me as he drove down the street so happy and glad. I smiled and waved back.
Fall is coming now, and it’s entirely possible I won’t see Musa again for a long time. Then again, I have his cell phone number now, and if I’m very lucky, maybe something exciting will happen (a new job? a better truck?) and he’ll want to come over and tell me in the winter.
I can only hope.
Musa and me, from inside the ice cream truck. More pictures here.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:20 am
jen… that is so awesome!!! love you!
September 6th, 2007 at 11:24 am
oh, my lovely friend,
the world is such a better place with you in it
…sharing your art, soul and stories…
this will go down as one of my favourites!!!
love to you,
k
September 6th, 2007 at 11:44 am
jen, this is just too awesome. kirsten is right, the world is a much better place with you in it.
i wish i could figure out a way to spread the ice cream truck love through out our little neighborhood of brooklyn. but those kids would milk that truck dry. oh wait, that might be my husband and myself.
(and henry? he does drops whatever he’s doing when he hears those first notes of the Mister Softee truck…tingtingtinging its way down our block. then he does the dance. goo!)
this is just so wonderful, good for you!
September 6th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
oh liz! if i had a mister softee truck option, that would be the death of me!!! i LOVE that stuff. and here’s my suggestion for mini-free ice cream days: go grab ten bucks worth of popsicles and take them to the park (or the fountain) next time you go. let your kids pass them out–it has a different vibe than “free” ice cream and less mob potential. still very fun!!
September 6th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
okay, delurking to say ~ wow
this is so very very wonderful and am so happy for you that it worked out so well!! this makes my heart smile large … xoxox
September 6th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Yay for Free Ice Cream Day! I’m so glad it was a delicious success!
September 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
What a wonderful thing you did, Jen. Not only for the children who ate the ice cream, but also for your children, for those mothers you describe, for Musa, and for all of us who read about your idea and watched it come to pass. I’m sorry I didn’t contribute a few more dollars for a little more ice cream! May all your ice cream dreams come true - and all your other dreams as well.
September 6th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
ooooh there is a free ice cream day…once a year ben and jerry’s gives a way free cones…no limit.
http://motherrising.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-cool-is-that.html
xoxo
September 6th, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Wow, you are such an amazing person to organise this for your neighbourhood kids! Sounds like it bought a lot of joy!
September 6th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Jen - thank you for dreaming beautiful dreams and then finding ways to make them reality. I wish I had the courage and the imagination that you have - you make so much difference.
September 6th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Wow. I don’t know how I missed this before, granted I’ve been distracted lately. I would have totally contributed. But what a happy story. It soothed me to read something like this today.
September 6th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
jen,
this is one of the best & most enjoyable stories i’ve read of yours. it shows just how much joy you find in giving gifts to the universe (mysteriously from the universe). your large heart and will to act on your dreams inspires me and many others. you are a true mentor…and i’m sure all the kids (and adults!) you surround yourself with look up to you like a blossoming, healing, wonderful, wildflower.
you rock.
rach
September 6th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I have tears in my eyes. My co-workers think I’m nuts. and YOU are so incredibly awesome and inspirational… if only we EACH did just one small think like FREE ICE CREAM DAY then the world would be a better place!
September 6th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Easily the most inspiring and beautiful thing I’ve read in I can’t tell you how long. Your site renews my hope in the power of the internet. And the photos? Absolutely lovely. Thank you for your ideas and for your giving heart. You are a beautiful person.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
This affirms it once and for all…
you are *officially* an ANGEL in human form!
Simply Remarkable!
What a gift your life and light are to so many.
I’m blessed to be one of them
Lisa
September 6th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
jen i had to come back and read this again….because you amaze and inspire me and it’s just so freakin’ cool.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
You are a wonderful and inspiring person. That is so AWESOME what you did. Your kids must think you’re so cool.
September 6th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
You are so wonderful Jen…the world would be a perfect place if only there were more people like you in it! You are a true inspiration - what a beautiful, generous heart
Can’t wait to meet you!
September 6th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
You are THE AWESOME.
I love that you did this. LOVE!
September 6th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
wild woman gives out free ice cream…
I think Jen wouldn’t mind being called a wild woman, or a wild mom, since she has called her own children “wild things“. (if I have to apologize like Steve Jobs, may it be minimally painful.)
Jen has an effervescent life source from I…
September 6th, 2007 at 10:50 pm
How awesome! I love that you come up with creative ideas in a kinetic/frenzy sort of way and then actually set them in motion. I love that you give so much of yourself away.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Ice Cream Dreams Do Come True…
Wouldn’t it be awesome if there was a free ice cream day? Get the inside scoop on how dreamer Jen Lemen and ice-cream truck driver Musa put the wheels in motion to serve up 150 smiles. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you did something like this?…
September 6th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
What a wonderful experience, and such a beautiful re-telling of the story.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
What a RUSH!!! I absolutely LOVE this. It made me smile from ear to ear. What an awesome experience for you, Musa and the kids. I love how your brain works.
September 7th, 2007 at 1:16 am
the bathroom notes. the free ice cream. you rawk, jen.
September 7th, 2007 at 7:07 am
I see the hopping worked - beautiful Jen - brings tears to my eyes!
September 7th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Awwesome!!! What a gift that an act of healing for the world can taste so sweet. Thank you for your inspiration!
September 7th, 2007 at 8:23 am
New to your blog.
And this story made me day, my week.
I am feeling so abundant and alive just taking it all in.
You and your words and your very spirit are captivating, and I’m hooked!
So very happy to have found you.
September 7th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
jen,
reading this story was the best part of my day.
ok, that’s not saying much, because today was really pooh-ish.
but this story was AMAZING!
if in fact we do get to meet (did pixie tell you?) in a couple of months…then i will be one lucky mama.
methinks that we could cause lots of positive::mischief together!
September 7th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
love it!! great story, it’s amazing how the little simple things offer so much hope. thanks for sharing it…
September 8th, 2007 at 2:23 am
I now dub you “Ice Cream Angel”.
This was fabulous to read…and experience with you. Thanks for your spirit.
September 8th, 2007 at 7:57 am
sitting here on this late summer saturday morning, i have tears in my eyes and goosebumps running up and down my arms after reading this story. the story that you (aligned with the Universe/perhaps responding to the Universe’s request of you) created. jen, you are a channel of joy, a channel of love, a channel of connection, you are a ripple-maker. thank you for your being.
September 8th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
so glad i found your blog. this is one of the most inspring things i’ve read in a while! good work.
September 8th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
i love this. love it.
September 8th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Stories like this are why we all love this blog; not because the stories are so good, but because I think they inspire us to share our own crazy ideas of hope and to try to bring happiness to those around us. How great is this?! These happy faces almost tell it all, by themselves. You totally ROCK!
September 9th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
Oh, Jen. Your stories are salve for the sore-of-heart and weary-of-imagination. Thank you for making so many dreams come true!
September 10th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
You know what I love most about this story?
We used to do a lot of this sort of thing in the various churches we’ve attended … but.. there was always an agenda.
What I love about you and your story is that you had no agenda other than to love people -
You are one incredible woman!
September 10th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
This is great. Inspiring. Musa may not be your best friend, but I’m sure he’ll never forget you!
September 11th, 2007 at 10:41 am
That’s so awesome. You know, I have told a gazillion people the story of how you handed out Popsicles at the fountain that day…
September 11th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I am very behind…but goodness you…you are such an important addition to this universe. You have the biggest heart and you see the joy in life. What a wonderful thing to do and I am so pleased that it worked out. (and that you met new friends!
You inpact people.
xoxo
September 11th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
[…] « Ice Cream Dreams Do Come True […]
September 12th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I just found your blog and I am smiling ear to ear knowing that someone to the iniative to make some children happy. Bless you!!
September 13th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
[…] Damalia Ayo, performance artists/activist, is heading up a performance art piece with audience (and passerby) participation. On October 10th she’ll be organizing the National Day of Panhandling for Reparations. The general idea is that folks will sign up to panhandle for funds from white Americans to pay back the descendants of Africans and African-Americans. Monies collected will be immediately returned to black passers-by on the street, and all parties would be issued a receipt. It’s just kind of brilliant, don’t you think? I certainly don’t have the chutzpah to take this on, but then again, I also wouldn’t have come up with “free ice cream day” in my local pocket of poverty. Maybe the problem isn’t a lack of cajones so much as a general stiffness of the imagination….? […]
September 18th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
jen, this is just totally amazing. i wish i lived on your street. i would give you my cell phone number, but then, you may not want it as i don’t drive an ice cream truck…
smiling ice cream faces are ze best.
September 30th, 2007 at 10:50 am
I just found your site - this is such a cool idea! no pun inteneded
ps, i think the world needs more people like you
October 1st, 2007 at 5:45 am
[…] And now without further adieu, my Perfect Post Award goes to… Jen Lemen for Ice Cream Dreams Do Come True […]
October 1st, 2007 at 9:42 am
this was great!
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:18 am
TOTALLY a perfect post.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:06 am
What a great story, even moreso that it is a true one.
Putting smiles on that many children’s faces is priceless.
I enjoy your writing style, too, it has an element of realism to your narrative…sort of gives me the feeling of watching this all happen from a perspective just out of the way of it all.
Thank you for sharing this story.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Your beautiful post has been nominated by one of our readers (at GNMParents) for Hot Stuff Of The Week. Congrats, and good luck in the voting!
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Jen, you are totally my hero. Reading this wonderful post has made my day. You go girl!