Like kids again

Hal and I had been talking for weeks about how we’d been craving a Friendly’s Reese’s Pieces Sundae. I actually was craving the Cone Head sundae you got as a kid - vanilla ice cream with hot fudge-dipped sugar cone, whipped topping and Reese's® Pieces® candy (description courtesy of Friendlys). My favorite part of that sundae was the way they used to sneak Reese’s Pieces candy in the bottom of the dish so when you ate all the ice cream there was a wonderful surprise waiting for you. So good.

So we agreed to go get Friendly’s on Saturday. Following a few hours in Fort Tryon Park smiling for the camera in 80 degree weather (yay for probably looking dewy and flushed in our engagement photos), then a long nap, and numerous complaints about it being so hot, we finally headed over to Friendly’s. It was like taking a step back into my childhood.

The smell of the grease was ever so familiar and hit me like a wave of nostalgia. The restaurant was loud with families all enjoying their sundaes, Fribbles and kid’s meals. The floor was predictably sticky. As we sat down in the booth, I was excited to note that the ever-present sundae and ice cream menu was exactly how I remembered it. Thank goodness some things never change.

We indulged just like everyone around us at that restaurant, young and old. Hal enjoyed every morsel of his grilled cheese while I couldn’t put enough ketchup on my waffle fries. He got a Reese’s Pieces Sundae (that-a –boy!) and a Fribble (oh my), while I actually opted for a Happy Ending sundae (yes, that’s what they call it) – 2 scoops with whipped cream and your topping of choice. I would’ve opted for the cone head but alas I can no longer pass for a 12 year old. We enjoyed every bite, mostly because the experience was exactly what I hoped it would be – satisfyingly unchanging and a tasty reminder of how carefree childhood can be, where sticky fingers are acceptable and calories just don’t count. As I watched a kid in the booth next to us ponder between bites of his quesadilla what kind of sundae he wanted, I thought to myself, I kinda miss the days when the biggest decision I had to make was choosing between ice cream flavors.

At least the cherry on top still makes me giddy even if pigtails are a thing of the past.