One Year of Sweet Tooth Tracy — Sweet Tooth Tracy

Aug 12

Aug 12 One Year of Sweet Tooth Tracy

I think I rambled in my “about” page about measuring a year “in scoops of ice cream” (hummed to Rent). If we’re being honest, it’s more like 30-something years of Sweet Tooth Tracy, but it’s now been a year that I’ve been posting about my love of ice cream! Time for some highlights.

I started the blog after realizing that ice cream photos were starting to be my “brand” - I’d get comments in real life about them, I’d seek out ice cream places to share with my friends, I’d try as much ice cream as I could when I traveled. Special thanks to Chris and Sam, and my Colorado family, for some specific pushes to start this party!

I started documenting my local faves, and I loved featuring my super-local Raytown businesses, too. I brought milkshakes to the hospital when the family was spending time with Grandpa (remember visiting people in the hospital?), and split a chocolate malt with him the night before he died. I visited a friend on the other side of the state and got plenty of ice cream along the way. I did a tour de peppermint to celebrate the holidays, and my brother and sister-in-law gave me an ice cream churn for Christmas. I splurged on ice cream pies.

Then, spring happened, and the pandemic hit and white people (myself included, I was late to the party) FINALLY started to be pissed off by systemic racism. My first big trip since starting the blog got canceled, and that turned out to be the least of my problems. As I adapted to doing my job virtually, I expanded my ice cream-making horizons, bought my first pint of Ben and Jerry’s, and dipped my toes into carry-out ice cream. I got obsessed with a Black-owned dairy-free ice cream kit, and added Black-owned ice cream shops to my dream travel list.

I’m not sure what the next year holds. More places have reopened from the pandemic shutdown but I’m trying to be wary about my movements, especially when it comes to taking off my mask (i.e., eating) in public. In a year I’ve seen places open and I’ve seen places close. I’d sure like my faves to stick around, and I’d also like to keep all the people working there safe. Here’s hoping the next coronavirus aid package goes through soon, and is actually helpful to individuals and small businesses. In conclusion… vote! Read! Learn! Use your voice! This world can be better, and we can help it get there. With ice cream breaks to get us through.