For De’Nisha Beasley, the jingle of the neighborhood ice cream truck has been more than just a call to indulge in sweet treats. Since her middle school days, now 39-year-old Beasley has eagerly anticipated the daily visit from the ice cream man, whom she affectionately calls “My ice cream man.”
“He loves my daughter!” exclaims Gail Beasley, De’Nisha’s mother, in a touching video capturing their unique bond. “Ever since she was a little girl, he’s been serving her ice cream.” In a heartfelt Instagram post, Beasley shared a video showing her old friend eagerly climbing down from his truck as she runs to give him a hug.
“The ice cream man showed up every day at the same time for over 25 years,” she wrote. “For a child who experienced a lot of trauma, having that consistency was incredibly healing. He always greeted me with the same love and excitement every time he saw me. As a child without much money, getting a free ice cream every single day really meant a lot—and it still does.”
De’Nisha Beasley next to an ice cream truck. Photo courtesy of Beasley
De’Nisha’s post resonated with many Instagram users, prompting them to share their own memories of community support and cherished interactions with their local ice cream vendors. “This is what community was about back in the day you were raised by a village,” commented one user. “The fact he has been coming around for 25 years and remembered you is amazing.”
De’Nisha said that she doesn’t know the name of her ice cream man, as she has always referred to him simply as “My ice cream man.” Their conversations are often limited, but their quarter-century of happy exchanges are memories she holds dear. Every summer, he still visits her Detroit neighborhood, treating her to free ice cream and slowing down as he approaches her block to ensure she has time to come outside.
“I don’t remember when he started being like, ‘you don’t pay,’ but I just know every time I tried to pay him, he was like, ‘no, no,’” Beasley recounted. “Then it got to the point where I just ran to the truck every day, and that was huge for me.” Before her vendor-turned-friend came along, Beasley used to scrounge for change whenever she heard an ice cream truck. “We just didn’t have money like that,” she explained. “And so when he started to come around, I don’t know if he knew that or he kind of picked that up.”
Their relationship has evolved into a cherished routine. He knows her favorite order—vanilla ice cream with caramel and sprinkles—and she can anticipate his arrival by his truck’s specific jingle. This melody has offered a glimmer of hope during times of deep tumult and pain. “I experienced a lot of trauma as a child, specifically in my community,” Beasley said. “People being murdered — my father was murdered, my uncle was murdered.”
So, all the male figures in my life; I lost at that age.”
The ice cream man’s consistent presence became a reliable comfort during these tumultuous times. “He showed up every day,” Beasley said. “I could count on when he was gonna show up.” Now a therapist, Beasley helps others heal relationships with themselves and deeply appreciates the pure, consistent kindness of her ice cream man. She organizes community events and has helped create a nonprofit focusing on anti-trafficking and child sexual exploitation, as well as often providing free ice cream to children and adults, alike.
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Source: Today
