I said I was going to check them out the second they opened in the morning. Another crew member said: "Nope. Tomorrow's Sunday and they're closed."
"Oh. Guess I'll have to go on my next layover." I looked at my schedule. "Oh wait, that's also on a Sunday. Dang it! Okay, well, I'll go the next time I'm here."
At the beginning of September I found myself back in Columbus and was determined to check out this fabulous ice cream. Around lunchtime I looked at their website to double check that they were open that day. Yes, they were. Awesome!
I figured I'd just exercise, clean up, then have an afternoon walk and get ice cream before our pick-up time that evening. Sweet!
I meandered around downtown making my way to Columbus Commons. There stood an adorable ice cream stand in the middle of a pretty park beside a precious carousel. What an idyllic setting to enjoy my ice cream! I walked up to the stand, and that's when I saw a sign that read: Closed.
Dang it!
The hours were: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. My watch said: 4:04 p.m.
As Wayne Campbell, from "Wayne's World", would say: Denied!!!
That was when I went all Scarlett O'Hara, shaking my fist at the heavens, and saying: "God as my witness...one day I will have Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream!"
Later in the month, sure enough; another layover in good ol' Columbus.
When we got in it was a cool night. The leaves were beginning to change on the trees by the airport. I had that: Ooooo...'someday it might be fall' feeling. Not anytime soon in Texas, but the fact that it could be cool somewhere gave me hope that it wouldn't be blazing hot forever.The next day was warm though. Warm enough for ice cream, I figured. I was working on a project in my room. I'd checked Jeni's hours first thing in the morning, and kept looking at my watch to be sure I didn't miss out...again.
I really got into my project and it crossed my mind to think: 'Well, I could go on my next layover here'. But I looked at their website and found out the location by our hotel was only open for summer hours: May through September.
It was now or never. I headed out for ice cream.
The day was absolutely gorgeous. Blue blue skies, leaves changing colors, but the temperatures were still warm, and the weather still sunny. The locals were out in droves promenading around the park, taking in the last vestiges of summer like...well, like people who weren't going to see it for maaaannny months to come.
I walked to the stand and it was...OPEN!
Yay! Finally!
They make special flavors every day and they had all my favorites. (Which is not really that surprising because all my favorites are, you know, uh...all of them.)
For my taster bowl I selected: Brambleberry Crisp, Darkest Chocolate, and Cold Brew with Coconut Cream. I sprung for their waffle bowl. Why not? Who knew when the stars might align next for me to be here...and them be open.
It did not disappoint. The waffle bowl was buttery and salty and light and crisp; the perfect foil to the sweet, velvety, ice cream. The flavors were a revelation; a magical marriage of homemade goodness and gourmet experimentation.
I sat down in an oversized Adirondack-style rocking chair. Ahhh...life is good. I called Michael to share my peak experience and sat there for a long time chatting, watching the carousel turn and the world go by, and eating my ice cream.
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"When I was a kid, I used to think, 'Man, if I could ever afford all the ice cream I want to eat, that's as rich as I ever want to be.'"
-Jimmy Dean
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"My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate."
-Thornton Wilder
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