I've noted in my blogs before that my family didn't have a lot of money while I was growing up. We weren't poor - we had enough - but there wasn't a lot left over once the bills were paid.
My parents had a favorite drive-up ice cream place. It was several miles from our home and it was a special occasion for us to go. The whole family would pile in our '68 Ford Galaxy every few weeks or so and head out for ice cream. The real name of the place escapes me, but my dad called it Dipsy Do. I have no idea why, but we all knew that Dipsy Do meant a delicious treat.
Mom was big on vanilla cones with sprinkles, my brother preferred chocolate and dad and I salivated as the girl behind the glass window piled the hot fudge on our sundaes. Some of my best memories are of dad and I eating hot fudge sundaes together. The sundaes at the Dipsy Do tasted better than anything to me in those days. I practically licked the bottom of that paper cup.
I remember Dad would eat his sundae at the red lights. There were four lights on the way home and he'd take huge bites then hand it back to Mom to hold when the light turned green. I don't know why he didn't enjoy it in the parking lot. There was always some reason we had to get home, I guess.
One warm August evening, we made our family jaunt to the Dipsy Do. We all got our usuals and off we went. When we stopped at the final red light, dad reached into his pocket for a paper napkin. The car was hot and Mom's ice cream was dripping down the side of the cone and all over the front seat. When dad brought his hand out, he found a $5 bill rolled up with the napkins the girl had handed through the window when he paid.
"Where'd this come from?" he asked.
"That's your change," Mom replied as she wiped up the sticky mess from the red vinyl seat.
Dad looked puzzled, stole another bite of his sundae and drove the rest of the way home in silence. When we pulled into the driveway, he turned to my mom and told her he had been given too much change. He said he remembered paying with a five and the girl must have made a mistake.
I'd like to say I would do what he did next, but I don't know if I would have.
Dad reversed out of the driveway and drove all the way back to the Dipsy Do. He went to the window and explained the mistake to the same girl who had made our sundaes. From my place in the back seat, I could see her expression and how much she lit up in appreciation.
My dad was a very honest man - that's fairly evident. He took great pride in being truthful. I think this was one of his finest qualities.
Considering I can recall this story with such clarity, he was obviously a wonderful example to me.
6 comments:
Great story. It obviously had a big impact on you. We don't see enough of that kind of honesty these days.
what a wonderful memory you have. those small simple ones are the best. it's as if you were describing something that happened yesterday. i too remember going out for ice cream as a family....
I can really see papa doing this. He was so honest, if only everyone in this world could be a little more like that.
I remember going to the Tastee~Freeze with my brother on Saturday afternoons. We got slushes. He got grape and I got cherry. I still get cherry. I miss my slush buddy.
The things we are taught when we are young make such an impact on us years later. Honesty is one of those things. My dad was very honest as well. He was an insurance salesman and he used to say sometimes he wished he wasn't so honest, we would be better off financially. We were better off because of his honesty.
we could use many more people like your dad in today's world, can't we? it's so hard to hear or read the news anymore.... this person lied, that person cheated, another killed. it's exhausting.
here's to memories!! and here's to your dad!! thanks for the smile today.
Your dad was an amazing man. What a wonderful memory.
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