Memoirs of an Ice-Cream Lady (Part 7)
By Emily Ho
Editor’s Note: The author runs an ice-cream parlor on Hong Kong’s Lamma Island. When time allows, she draws caricatures and writes. The following are semi-autobiographical anecdotes blending fact and fiction.
Physical
Total weight of ice cream: 35 kilograms plus another 5 kg of dry ice.
Total weight of Emily: 45 kg plus another 5 kg of long hair.
Emily struggled to figure out how she could have picked up so much ice cream by herself and taken it from the pier to her shop. From where had the muscle power come?
Without door-to-door delivery on Lamma, the shopkeepers who can’t afford to hire a helper must pick up their goods at the pier in Yung Shue Wan, the largest village. Incidentally, the village name means “Beach of the Banyan Tree”, although the former beach has been occupied by seaside bars, restaurants and new-age shops.
Except for two large freezers, Emily had brought in all the merchandise for her shop-opening. But she still considered it a challenge to pick up the ice cream at least once a week.
Most people may think it’s easy to get a trolley and push the boxes on that. But the main issue is lifting big cartons (without handles) about the weight of oneself. Then there’s Emily’s once-injured knee. When lifting, knees must bear triple the weight.
Sometimes a kind-hearted sandwich-shop worker helps Emily when happening to pick up goods at the same time. Most busy people mind their own business and don’t notice, or pretend not to, when someone needs help.
Love at 60
Emily was single when starting the ice-cream shop. Although many friends were married, she felt no urge to rush. In her mind, an ideal time for marriage might be at age 60 when mature and knowledgeable enough to find the right partner.
Often, Emily’s old-fashioned mother reminded her, “Ah-Mei (Emily’s Chinese name meaning “beauty”), get a nice man and marry soon. Otherwise, no one will keep you company when you’re old!”
But Emily would reply, “In that case, I should wait until I’m really old and need a man for company. Why waste time looking and sacrifice the chance to enjoy my own life?”
Marrying because your friends do is naïve, even stupid, like trying to lose your virginity as a teenager just because your teenage pals did. Emily preferred to fall in love. Yet some people marry for much more practical reasons.
Sometimes Emily told her girlfriends: “If I had a chance to date Richard Li (from Hong Kong’s richest family), I’d wave a gun and order him to marry me!” Of course, that’s just a joke. Emily really wants true love, even if she must wait until age 60.
Typical Miss Hong Kong
Young ladies and children form a big part of Emily’s target market because many have a sweet tooth. Some young women visit the ice-cream shop with boyfriends, some with acquaintances and others alone. Emily observes some special phenomena about these Chinese ladies.
Those who come with boyfriends often try to push their partners out again after checking the prices, despite the boyfriends being happy to treat them. They may put on long faces and say, “Mm-maai” (“don’t buy” in Cantonese).
The ones together with acquaintances always must check with each friend to see who else will buy ice cream. Only then can they decide.
Those arriving alone are the most likely to request unusual flavors, like “ube” or “rum and cherry”, either phased out or non-existent on Emily’s long list of 70 flavors. Then they’ll turn away without bothering to check on other flavors.
Many spend ages to select a flavor. It’s almost as if they’re choosing a marriage partner!
Emily discusses these issues with her own friends who agree that Hong Kong ladies are extra-picky and difficult to please. No wonder that so many remain single.
Of course, some ladies, like Emily herself, always smile gleefully when entering and seeing all the tempting ice-cream flavors placed in front of them!
Coming soon:
Big Sticks, Blades Loom Over Lamma
(more Memoirs of an Ice-Cream Lady)
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