There are still days when summer is just too hot, and there is only one thing that can improve the situation. That thing is a trip to Dairy Queen. I still remember when we would all pile into the car with my siblings. The anticipation built up as we waited to get our sweet, icy treat.

As soon as we caught a glimpse of the sign, a large red and white ellipse that was slightly askew, we knew it was close. It was more than just their ice cream. It was the logo, the symbol of a bright and happy place, where everyone knew that something delicious awaited them.

And here’s the funny thing. The logo that has been the symbol of happiness for us for so long isn’t just some shape or color chosen randomly. There are many things one wouldn’t know if they were only concerned with the taste of the Dilly Bar or the Blizzard. To tell you the truth, it wasn’t a big issue for me. I didn’t really think about it as a child.

The logo was simply there, as evident and unnoticed as the soft-serve ice cream it promotes. But as I moved into high school, I began to question the meaning behind the symbols I encountered every day. What’s so special about the Dairy Queen logo? Is it new, or has it been around for a long time? And what’s the message within it, if there is one?