She died four months before my 18th birthday. In a matter of three weeks she went from sick with a cold, to unresponsive in a nursing home, yet she has continued to live on in my life in the form of Blue Bell coffee ice cream, Diet Coke, and late night crime drama’s.

For some people Blue Bell is just an item in the freezer, but for me, it is an important part of my grand mother’s legacy.

It wasn’t always the most popular flavor which is why Grandma used to always wait for the Blue Bell deliveryman at the store to see if he had any, and if he did, Lord know’s she bought at least three. For Grandma Owen, the five most important things in life were her grand kids, cheap box wine and beer, diet coke, crime shows, and Blue Bell coffee ice cream.

Me and Grandma Owen hanging like we always did.

I’ll never forget the nights I’d stay up past my bedtime watching NCIS, Numb3rs, or Criminal Minds if I was really feeling perky. Those nights guaranteed a bowl of coffee ice cream on the couch next to grandma.

With Blue Bell shutting down and nearly going bankrupt over an outbreak of listeria, I was starting to wonder if my nights of coffee ice cream and crime drama’s was over with.

While Blue Bell exists as just a delicious ice cream for some it continues to be an important part of my tradition in remembering my best friend – my Grandma.

Needless to say, I am more than thrilled that my favorite brand of ice cream is returning on August 31. And I am also comforted in knowing that I will once again be able to continue to remember my grandma over a bowl of coffee ice cream and NCIS reruns.