Free Ice Cream Truck in Portland, Maine Made me Feel Like a Kid

“It’s FREE” and “it’s ICE CREAM”. Okay… You have my attention.

Walking through Monument Square today with a full belly, I walked by an ice cream truck without even turning my head. When I was little, I was convinced I had two stomachs, one for food and one for dessert but that is not the case anymore at 25 years young.

But, as soon as I heard the word “FREE”, I was sold.

Great Diamond Partners was posted up in the square with Dottie’s Ice Cream van slinging the classics: Spongebob Pops, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Spiderman Popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, knockoff Dippin' Dots, you name it.

Once I saw the menu of pictures, a wave of nostalgia soared through me and I felt 10-years-old again standing with my mom ordering a Spongebob pop with gumball eyes. I’m sure we can all hear the song playing in our heads right now, whether that sound is annoying or nostalgic.

It’s The Little Things in Life

It really is! It’s a small gesture to hand out free treats but can turn someone’s day around. A dessert might be part of your daily routine but for some people, pleasures like that aren’t an option and for those who have to pinch pennies, a treat doesn’t make the cut.

I’d love to see more things like this around our city; We have an affluent chunk of folks who can afford to give to others, even just something like ice cream, and it always brings people together. I had pleasant random conversations with strangers just because there was a free ice cream truck that caused us to all migrate to one area together and chat about the simple joys in life.

What’s a small gesture you experienced recently that had a lasting effect?

LOOK: Here Are 30 Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs

To prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet's phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call at (888) 426-4435 for advice.

Even with all of these resources, however, the best cure for food poisoning is preventing it in the first place. To give you an idea of what human foods can be dangerous, Stacker has put together a slideshow of 30 common foods to avoid. Take a look to see if there are any that surprise you.