With our first real blast of winter weather upon us and not leaving us all too soon, my mind turned to one thing today: an unseasonable opening in the works.
Some of my favorite memories are the evenings spent at the local ice-cream stand, Bob-Jos in Wyandotte (come to think of it, if I know their history, I ought to create a new Wikipedia article on it). It was always a treat to go there to beat the summer heat, especially when a cold ice cream cone was a reward for a good deed or a well-behaved day. Lord knows I didn't have too many well-behaved days as a youngster, so those trips were hard-earned. My father will be happy to know Bob-Jos is still there, and still gets good business.
I don't live near there anymore, but we do have the old-fashioned Dairy Queen walk-up stand three blocks from the house. Their milkshakes are fantastic.
When they will open this year is the question. It puzzles me sometimes that ice-cream stands don't open for the season in-season. Three years ago, I saw the Southgate Dairy Queen announcing plans to close for the season on September 23. Closing the business that early when temperatures still hovered around 80 degrees? It made no sense.
Neither does opening a stand in the middle of February, when it's bitter cold and the snow continues to fly. The stand near my house opened February 25 last year, and those shivering employees probably wondered where everyone was. Most likely, wisely staying at home. Why pay for a "frostee", after all, when you still see "frostee" weather outside for free?
This, of course, discounts actual walk-in stores, where you can enjoy your treat in warmth no matter what time of the year. And granted, Michigan has one of the craziest, most inconsistent climates you'll find. But one thing is certain about this state: September weather is generally (generally?) warmer than February weather.
Whose clock is off on this one?
