Just Vanilla

I saw a good movie - an honest to god, damned good movie. Go watch Little Miss Sunshine! It’s awesome in the way that makes me go, “Damn, now that’s what a good movie is about!” It’s not a movie about cool effect or watching stars be hot and sexy, it’s a simple movie with some real good writing. It’s also a movie that reminds you that even when things are bad, life is still worth laughing at.

I took my little brother to my favorite local park to ride his new bike…because with all my good influences of buying him Eragon books and playing lots of video games, he’s bound to get beat up in high school, maybe he’ll get in good enough shape to make a run for it.
Still, today was muggy and hot in Seattle so after a few rounds in Seward Park, I asked him if he wanted to go for ice cream since we were taunted by the ice cream truck at the end of every loop. He loved the idea (even though I later found out from my sister that he usually doesn’t care for ice cream).
So we went for some real ice cream at Baskin Robbins. I realize I haven’t hung out with my little brother much because he’s eleven…that’s like barely human. I didn’t know what kind of ice cream he liked. I asked him. He told me, “I like vanilla ice cream.” Me, “Just vanilla?” He replied, “Yeah.” I laughed because while my other brother is a lot more like my sister, Alec is a lot like me. I used to love just plain old vanilla ice cream too. I told him, “Well, you know, I used to love just vanilla too, but you know what else is really good? Brownie Sundae.” Apparently he’s never heard of that option. I asked if he wanted vanilla on a cone, cup or brownie when we got to the shop and he decided to try the sundae. He was in love with it. Yay, me! One more bad influence on the little brother and counting! I went for the plain vanilla in a cup. I do understand the love for the plain and simple but he should at least learn that he has options even with "just vanilla".