Today is my 31st birthday.

For years, I had a little daydream: it would be really fun to go into a Baskin-Robbins on my 31st birthday and sample each flavor of ice cream.  So on Monday, I went to my local store and asked to speak to the manager.  I spoke to a woman who said she was a manager, and she thought my idea was wonderful.  She brought out the Baskin-Robbins corporate magazine and showed me a photo of a couple eating ice cream on their 31st wedding anniversary.  She said it was fine to come in on Sunday as long as I “didn’t bring 20 friends with me,” and I laughed and said of course not, just my husband.

So today, I was excited.  I stopped by the web site to check which flavors I was allergic to, and made a list of all the ones I wanted to try.  I went to Baskin-Robbins and explained everything to the man behind the counter, who seemed to understand.  I’d had three samples when he frowned and said I couldn’t have any more. He said people were limited to three samples per person.  I told him it was my 31st birthday and I had special permission from the manager.  He said he was the owner and he wouldn’t give me any more samples.  I showed him my ID, and at that point he said I was supposed to sign up for their Birthday Club and get the free certificate in the mail, but he’d give me a free ice cream cone anyway.

So I got an ice cream cone… but that wasn’t the point.  I didn’t want ice cream–I wanted an experience.  The amount of ice cream he gave me ended up being more food than the samples would have been, so it’s not even like he saved any money.  Mostly, though, I’m just disappointed.  I’d been looking forward to this for a few years–not my life’s dream, certainly, but it would have been fun.

Guess I’ll be going to Cold Stone Creamery next time.