Pass Through The Sugar Cone Mountains

   I'm going to tell you a little story about a misunderstanding I had recently. I was scrolling through my social media when one of those sayings people are always posting popped up. There was a picture of a stern looking man who was saying, "If you want to make everyone happy, sell ice cream."
   "How true," I thought. It put me in mind of the ice cream sellers of Ireland. When my extended family was staying just outside the lovely town of Dingle ten years ago, the ice cream truck would pull up to our compound every afternoon and we would give him good trade.
   When I returned to Dingle four years ago with friends, I ran into the ice cream man at the top of Conor Pass. Now Conor Pass is Ireland's highest mountain pass. Part of the road is carved into the sheer rock face of the mountain and for a hair-raising mile it is one lane only. When you reach the top of the pass, nothing would be more restorative than a nice ice cream. And sure enough, there in the little scenic overlook was the ice cream truck. Yum!
   I think this view is the most beautiful spot in a very beautiful country. Having ice cream to go with it doesn't hurt. We went back to Dingle with family and friends this past July. Teresa stayed back in Mass to watch our middle son's two young children. What a saint. So I was having a roistering time, keeping late hours, etc.,etc.
    I awoke late one morning and discovered a couple of friends were heading up to Conor Pass. This was their first trip to Ireland. "When are you leaving?" I asked. "Right now," they said. I was already dressed so I hopped in the back seat of their little car and off we went. "Wouldn't it be a fine thing," I thought, "if the ice cream man was up in the pass." When we got to the top, there he was with his little signboard propped up in front. And he sold coffee! The saints be praised.
   We milled around a bit, enjoying the view, and I began to regret my lack of breakfast. Well wouldn't you know, the ice cream man sold two kinds of soup. I had the minestrone. Hot and filling. I chatted with the man a bit. "Ah, yes. My office has the finest view in the world." I agreed heartily. Turns out he has a Thai girlfriend and they spend winters in Thailand. Conor Pass is one of the few places in Ireland that gets snow.
   The ice cream man had made me truly happy that day and I thought about that saying on my computer. I came across it again and studied the man's features more closely. Well I'll be blowed if it wasn't Steve Jobs! His crack about ice cream was meant sardonically. Well I just say no to his sardony even though he did bring the world a product that has improved my life and which I must keep within arm's reach at all times. But did he have to be such a SOB while doing it?
   Ice cream is a metaphor for the pleasure of living. Enjoy it before it melts. Acid is not an appropriate topping.

Ireland's highest ice cream truck, at 1,496 ft (456 m).