Root Beer Floats

When I was young, the Fourth of July meant swimming, brownies, and root beer floats. My sisters and I weren't allowed to drink pop or other soft drinks unless it was a special occasion; that fact alone made the treat even more wonderful.

To make the most fabulous root beer floats, you need super-premium ice cream, the best root beer you can buy, a very tall glass or mug, and a long teaspoon. For the best flavor, of course, you must eat the floats outside, sitting on a quilt placed on soft green grass, feeling scrubbed clean from swimming all day, waiting for fireworks to begin. Happy Fourth of July!