Monday, July 27, 2009

Once upon a time...

It began in the State of Kansas in 1933. Bill Braum was in grade school when he began his career by helping his father, Henry H. Braum, with the family business, a small butter and milk processing plant in Emporia, Kansas. Seven years later ice cream processing was added to the operation. 76 years after that a school teacher, a hygenist, three dentists and a Ugandan walked into an Oklahoma City Braums to eat ice cream in the most unusual of ways.


The evening started with a lovely Italian meal at Steve Mueller's apartment. Home-made lasagna, French bread and a green salad beckoned the hungry friends to the table and, consequently, away from living room where there was starting to be a few too many impressions of The Godfather.

They ate.

Thus completing the third meal of the day, the dentists, so as to avoid hypocracy, whipped out travel sized toothbrushes from their pockets and proceded to brush. Toothpaste, however, lacks the abilty to satisfy a sweet tooth craving, so the diners decided to go out for ice cream.

Upon arrival at Braum's one of the friends exclaimed, "Hey, that's Morris in the drive thru!" And so another dentist was caught about to load up on ice cream. (He claimed it was all for the wife, who was expecting, but he fooled no one). The friends stormed the car and invited the fourth dentist and his wife to join them inside.



Once inside, the group ordered two half-gallon tubs which they intended to invert, unwrap, then eat. This was not an easy task and involved a lot of confused discussion (mostly in regard to how to remove the tub). Many utinsils were needed, which of course required a little bit of charm to attain from the Braum's employees. The Ugandan had to show the school teacher how this was typically done. The only thing more disturbing than the sight of this was the over-abundance of framed ice cream sundae posters trying to pass for art on the wall (see photo below).

Eventually, the ice cream was accessed and everyone partook of the delicious treat. The friends talked and laughed and generally enjoyed each other's company.

The End.