Root beer floats “speak” love to me. When I was a little girl, the highlight of visiting my grandpa on his farm was sitting next to him as he drove his old truck to the A&W drive-in. A few minutes later, we were headed home with a big, sloshing jug, full of root beer, and a tub of ice cream at my feet.
The next hour was a dream- as many root beer floats as my and my brothers’ stomachs could handle. Every time I ate too many, and every time I got sick. But I never learned.
I wanted to take in as much sweetness and love as I could during those visits with my grandpa. He was a great pal, root beer aside, letting me help gather eggs from the hens, engaging in pillow fights across the living room, and cuddling in his hand-crafted backyard swing. But mostly, I remember the never-ending flow of rootbeer.
To this day, I think of Grandpa whenever I come across this delicious, cold treat. He died when I was six, so I didn’t get to know him through my adult eyes, nor do I remember any words of wisdom from him, but my memories are all of love and (literal) sweetness.
Many years have passed, and other delicacies have taken the place of my beloved root beer float. But its function remains the same. After spending some time with these memories, it’s no mystery why I go for the sweets when I feel alone, or am in need of some affection or comfort.
As an adult, I’ve been working on discovering other, more nourishing ideas to fill that need in my life. I’ve come up with several, such as a phone call to a friend, a time-out in nature, or a few chapters in a good book. Sometimes, though, a decadent piece of chocolate still hits the spot like nothing else.
What about you–Do you have a food memory that stands out?
Can you see a connection to the role food plays in your life today?