Orly turned four on a spectacular fall day. A Wednesday afternoon with golden sunlight, temperatures in the mid-60s, and red and gold trees in full fall glory.

After a weekly meeting, I took my lunch break, and walked with Orly around the neighborhood, through the park, and to the ice-cream stand. There was no line, and the bored-looking young man working there was eager to help.

I asked for a kid-size cone of vanilla in a cup. So far, so ordinary. He asked if I wanted a pup cone for Orly. I said no, thanks, but this cup is for her. It’s her birthday. He pushed back: But the pup cones are free!

I know, I told him. We come here often (Orly disagreed with “often”). But it’s her birthday, I added, and I always get my dogs their own cup on their birthday. With a huge smile, he said, well, then, I will give her the cup for free. I said he didn’t need to do that … he insisted and asked: Is yellow cake ok? that’s what we usually give to dogs.

I said it was. I have never tasted the Big Dipper’s yellow cake ice cream, but if that is what they usually give to dogs, I am certain that Orly loves it.

He asked if I wanted anything for myself. I did, but I asked him to give me Orly’s first. I paid for my mocha-chip in a waffle cone, added a tip to the tip jar, took Orly’s cup, and led Orly to a table.

One advantage to dog ice cream in a cup is that the dog has to lick it out, and it lasts for a few minutes, versus the nanosecond it takes Orly to inhale a pup cone.

As Orly was working on her ice cream, a woman came out of the ice-cream stand and started fiddling with the lock on the ice-cream truck door. She noticed us, said hello, then added, “We give out free pup cones, you know.”

I again explained that we love the pup cones, but that Orly gets a whole scoop for her birthday.

Soon, Orly finished her ice cream, and I got up and collected mine. We decided that I could eat my cone while walking home. Orly kept a close eye on the cone in case it happened to fall out of my hands…

It did not.

However, the end of the cone, as it always does, found its way into Orly’s mouth.

Happy Birthday, Orly!