Thanks for the Ice Cream and Memories

The demolition of a major landmark will occur sometime soon in Arlington. It probably won't make the news, it may even go unnoticed by many, but I am speaking of the Braum's location on Park Row, which moved today to a new location up the street. The new location looks nice - it's new, it's bigger, and it's bound to be cleaner on the inside. The old Braum's building was always dirty, the bathrooms were always nasty, the kitchen area always made me cringe, and the tables were always sticky. (I know, every Braum's is nasty - but this one was especially so.) So why am I a bit sad to see it go? For the last 32 years, that location has held many celebratory memories for me. As a little kid, I would love to swing on the bar as we waited to order our ice cream ("Rocky Road on a sugar cone, please"). I couldn’t possibly count the number of times the Hawkes grandkids celebrated at Braum's following a little league game or an orchestra concert. I think it was one of Pappaw's favorites. Well, and getting the family together was one of his favorites too, so combine family and ice cream and you create a wonderful place. And as large a family as we had, we would often take up an entire section in the back. We would swivel on the chairs, recount stories, and have fun together as family. It didn't matter whether it was dirty, smoky, or fly filled, we always enjoyed going to Braum's. Had I realized soon enough that yesterday was going to be the last day that location was open, I would have made one more visit. Oh well, the memories will have to suffice, I guess.