Close your eyes and think 1940s, steamy, hot summer night, a little girl in her summer pinafore sitting in the front seat of, probably, a Chevy, between the aunt and uncle she adored.  Out on a spin to cool off after dinner and landing at her hoped for destination, the A & W Root Beer stand.  The little girl was me and I can’t begin to tell you how much these sporadic evening excursions meant to me – they were a treat that defied words.

We pulled up to the stand and my aunt put in our order – 3 root beer floats.  The mugs were frosty, the root beer ice cold, and the vanilla ice cream rich and sugary.  If I close my eyes, I can taste the foaming, creamy root beer mixing with the melting ice cream.  I don’t remember if the stand had “tray service” (A & W stands were one of the first to introduce this concept), but I do remember the iciness of the float, the warm embrace of my doting aunt, and the welcome of the server.

On a recent hot, summer Sunday, I made root beer floats for my grandchildren – Alexander and Clara Grace – after we had enjoyed a classic American summer supper of steak, corn on the cob, and tomato salad.  I wonder if the drink seems insignificant in their wonderland of video games, fast food, and computer mastery.  I wonder if they will remember the taste of a rich, creamy root beer float on a hot summer’s eve as much as I do.  I doubt it, but nonetheless I still want to share the experience with them.