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So I grew up in the suburbs of a city. And while all the towns around mine had subdivisions, and neighborhoods, my town was much more rural because of some fun town by-laws about how much land was required before you could build a house. We lived on the south side - more south than South Ave. And as such, were closer to other towns than the center of my own.
When I was a kid, a bike was the most important thing to have. Walking was fine, but you could get somewhere a lot faster on a bike - and could make it to the closest market (about three miles) and back before dinner. We also had, within bike but not walking distance a Dairy Queen. North side kids had the Dairy Joy, South side kids had the Dairy Queen. It was seasonal, so it wasn't open all year.
We'd scrape together coins and the occasional bill, get on our bikes and ride down to the Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone.
I was practically an adult (in college) before I saw a different Dairy Queen. And that it had an actual *inside* to it was a shock. *My* Dairy Queen was a drive-thru, or get out of the car and walk to the window to order kind of shop. In the early summer evenings, it is like a big tailgate party - people eating in and around their cars. There were a few picnic tables set up for folks to claim if they so chose. Kids running absolutely everywhere. I thought all Dairy Queens were like mine. Seasonal, with only the clerks and cooks inside the building.
So eating *in* my first indoor Dairy Queen was a bit of a surreal experience. I'd never equated the Dairy Queen - which provided all things ice cream and sweet summer snacks - as being an actual fast food restaurant. I still won't eat McDonalds or Burger King. But I'll go into a Dairy Queen with no problems. Although, I still feel that tiny thrill of discovery every time I enter one. DQ. Has an inside. Huh. That's kinda cool. Who thought that up?
When I was a kid, a bike was the most important thing to have. Walking was fine, but you could get somewhere a lot faster on a bike - and could make it to the closest market (about three miles) and back before dinner. We also had, within bike but not walking distance a Dairy Queen. North side kids had the Dairy Joy, South side kids had the Dairy Queen. It was seasonal, so it wasn't open all year.
We'd scrape together coins and the occasional bill, get on our bikes and ride down to the Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone.
I was practically an adult (in college) before I saw a different Dairy Queen. And that it had an actual *inside* to it was a shock. *My* Dairy Queen was a drive-thru, or get out of the car and walk to the window to order kind of shop. In the early summer evenings, it is like a big tailgate party - people eating in and around their cars. There were a few picnic tables set up for folks to claim if they so chose. Kids running absolutely everywhere. I thought all Dairy Queens were like mine. Seasonal, with only the clerks and cooks inside the building.
So eating *in* my first indoor Dairy Queen was a bit of a surreal experience. I'd never equated the Dairy Queen - which provided all things ice cream and sweet summer snacks - as being an actual fast food restaurant. I still won't eat McDonalds or Burger King. But I'll go into a Dairy Queen with no problems. Although, I still feel that tiny thrill of discovery every time I enter one. DQ. Has an inside. Huh. That's kinda cool. Who thought that up?
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