I Scream – The Sweet Treat That Unlocks a Lifetime of Summer Memories
Raise your hand if you recognize this! In 1927, this little ditty became a classic and a tongue-twister challenge. For me, it brings back great memories associated with this summer treat.
My grandmother’s ice cream churn would be set on the back porch, fresh cow’s milk would form the base, and different children and adults would take turns turning the crank, anticipating a delicious outcome. At home in the city, we would listen for the ice cream truck’s music as it played childhood ditties while slowly rolling through the neighborhood. Actually, there is an ice cream truck that comes through my current neighborhood, and I love the memories it brings back.
Chocolate-coated bars were my favorite. The chocolate coating was hard and thick. If you had a loose tooth, you had to be really careful, as breaking that coating was not easy. The block of vanilla on the inside was worth it, and the chocolate sheets would slowly melt in your mouth just in time for taking another bite before the ice cream started running down your arm to your elbow. No matter. It was all worth it.
Funny how a small treat on a stick can bring back a flood of memories and the feeling of joy. Life is lived in moments, and each of these moments triggers a cascade of other memories. Simple things truly are valuable.
Taking turns on the ice cream churn, mixing your tired arm with your anticipation, was joyous. While waiting for the final turn, Mother would braid my hair to keep it out of the way. Being tidy had importance.
The taste of fresh ice cream is hard to describe. You have watched this treat develop from the warm milk in the bucket, to moving through the strainer in the milk house, to sitting in Grandma’s icebox, which was really an “ice” box with a huge block of ice in one compartment, to resting in the churn and waiting to be whipped into a delicious cold treat. That is the best!
Today, when the vanilla is pulled out of the freezer and mounted on a sugar cone, those memories fill the kitchen and lead to other stories of adventures on the farm.
The song was written by Howard Johnson, Billy Moll, and Robert A. King. Johnson also wrote “M-O-T-H-E-R, A Word That Means The World To Me,” which you may or may not know. I remember that, as kids, we found ways to use that one that were both complimentary and not so complimentary. Billy Moll wrote “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams,” which was a Bing Crosby favorite. Robert A. King was a prolific songwriter who also wrote under other names.
As the summer comes to an end, school starts, and we all turn to work, looking back on summers past brings a softness and a comfort. In my experience, an ice cream cone with your favorite flavor is the best, not just for licking or eating, but for filling your heart with memories.
Explore related reflections:
The Right Mindset blog
Seasonal reflections
Therapeutic approaches
Learn more from trusted food‑history and culture resources:
PBS – History of Ice Cream
Smithsonian Magazine – Food & Culture
Serious Eats
If you are navigating emotional transitions, sensory grounding, or the comfort of familiar rituals, therapy can offer clarity and support. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, resilience, and meaningful growth.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst