What a great evening, spent with two handsome young men…grandsons Dayan and Jonathan. Before school starts back up, I want to spend time with the grandkids, having summer time fun.
We started with dinner at Wendy’s, and finished our evening together browsing and shopping at Vintage Stock, at Northpark Mall. In between we stopped for delicious ice cream at a fun and unique location.
All Aboard Ice Cream Company, located just south of Joplin in the Redings Mill area, has converted a Kansas City Southern Postal Car into a dining area. We ordered our ice cream in the building next door, the “depot”. With 16 flavors to choose from, we carefully considered our options.
We carried our selections to the train car next door and settled in to enjoy the cold, creamy goodness. Postal car #34 spent 40 years parked in Pittsburg, KS before being relocated to Redings Mill. This historical railroad car operated in the area for years, delivering mail to many cities, including Joplin.
Anderson’s Ice Cream acquired the car to use as the future home of their newly renamed, All Aboard Ice Cream Company. We enjoyed sitting in the air conditioned car and looking at the mail slots on the wall. We found the one labeled JOPLIN. We moved to the back of the train to sit in the passenger section and finish our treat.
We gave our imaginations free reign as we looked out the windows, wondering what it was like to chug down the track. The ice cream was wonderful and I cherished our time together. I loved our conversations and the way the boys interacted with each other, Dayan answering Jonathan’s questions and both boys outdoing me in an ongoing game of Slugbugs. I love being their Yaya.
