“I is for shave ice.”
“With Adzuki beans inside!”
I read the first line; my son read the second — a call and response from his Hawaiian alphabet book. Though he’s now 16 and towers over me — truly tiptoes-for-a-hug tall — I can still hear the rise and fall of his small, bright toddler voice. I can feel the joy, dare I say thrill, that dressed his words. At two years old, there’s thrill in being safely snuggled with your guardian, in a familiar chair you’ve been rocked in since birth. And there’s a thrill in knowing what comes next — projecting your line with sweet, happy confidence, words still so new to that small tongue. To an adult, the subject matter of Hawaii might seem like the hook but our older lens easily forgets that, at that age, a banal-looking Vancouver city fountain glimpsed from a bus can rival the Trevi in Rome, and a supermarket fish tank holds as much wonder as a grand aquarium. The book really could have been about anything.
It certainly made our first Hawaiian shave ice more exciting — filled with the anticipation built from countless recitations in that rocking chair. I don’t think he even ordered one with adzuki beans. That’s something we’ll have to seek out as we head to Hawaii this week. You don’t need a passport to enjoy delicious Hawaiian shave ice — we have our own summer dessert destination right in the heart of the Creek, and it’s delightful.
Just ice and syrup — a dessert so simple it has nowhere to hide. Linger a little longer at Shave Ice Paradise, and you’ll witness the focused family effort that goes into making something so simple taste so delicious. They haul in fruit to craft many of their syrups — because pre-made syrups simply can’t come close to the homemade variety. The gelato is sourced from a particular vendor in Vancouver. On my inaugural visit this summer, I loved hearing about viscosity trials as Sarah and her crew continue to tinker with their recipes. It’s possible my daughter was offered some summer pocket money to taste-test as many options as possible as we cruise from island to island — provided she returns with notes from her fruity reconnaissance mission.
Whether it’s a trip down the road for shave ice or a journey across the ocean, the potential for delight doesn’t lie only in the subject matter. It’s the deeper connection we make with ourselves — and with the people we share these experiences with — that cements these moments as cherished memories. Sometimes, the memory of reading about shave ice feels even more joyous than the real thing.
Summer in the Creek is brimming with other delights — events, gatherings, and small-town moments waiting to become memories of their own.
- Slow Sundays in the Creek are alive and well, the strains of music drifting out over the scent of cedar and sunscreen. This Sunday, July 20, Celtic Sunday brings Irish, Scottish, and Welsh music: Two Thistles and a Rose, the Harmony Hall Fiddlers and The Shamrockers Irish Pub Band, ready to set toes tapping.
- Creek Days is just around the corner. It makes me smile to think of the candy-filled parade and the best Sunday of summer, dancing in the sun, part of a true Creek tradition in its 47th year. And it’s the volunteers who make it happen — sign up by contacting [email protected].
- Just released! Ed Lands and Anne Moul announce the release of a limited edition copy of their book: Gumboot Nation 60s 70s and 80s: voices from a unique era. Only 250 copies made. Gumboot Nation can be purchased at the Roberts Creek Library Tuesday to Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gumboot Nation will also be available at Gumboot Restaurant, Eco-Freako in Roberts Creek and at Talewind Books in Sechelt. All profits from the $25 price go to the Roberts Creek Community Association (RCCA). It is an ideal gift for visitors and family.
Each festival, concert, or quiet afternoon is a seed, waiting to bloom into a memory coloured by the feelings it plants in us. By the way, that shave ice? The real fanatics know it’s not just ice and syrup: it’s gelato on the bottom, snow cap on top — that’s the only way to do it. Much like the experience of parenting — layers hidden under the surface, pockets of sweetness, abundant in the first few bites, and, look away for one moment, suddenly melting faster than you’d like.
Thank you to Kim Kerr Fenton for looking after the Gumboot Nation while I’m away. Aloha!
