A Drive-Thru Memory Lane

Maybe it was driving around in my daughter’s Chevy yesterday, remembering the sense of daring and freedom in skipping out of high school for lunch on Fridays. My friends and I  would go straight to McDonald’s: the local hot spot for school skippers and various  other ne’er-do-wells, feeling giddy at the prospect of a Big Mac and fries instead of the tired old cafeteria fare.

The idea of revisiting a McDonald’s must have come into my head when, recently, at my family’s Christmas Eve party, we all got to reminiscing on just how much we used to love a Big Mac! Well, Big Macs haven’t been part of my diet since around 1998, so when I drove by the golden arches this Friday afternoon, and found myself steering into the drive-through, I must admit, it was with a little trepidation. I had a lot of overwhelming questions, like  “What will happen to me if I ingest this thing? Haven’t movies been made to warn us about the consequences? Isn’t my body supposed to be a temple, or something like that?! More than that, can I shamelessly admit it to my friends–who are all so fit and health-conscious??”

But the rebel in me kicked in, and a wave of nostalgia washed over me as I inched up in line, reviewing the menu.  A cheery voice boomed from the ordering station, welcoming me and asking for my heart’s desire. Without hesitation, I ordered the three-tiered, special-sauced sandwich of my youth, small fries, and— just in case—an iced mocha. And that’s where the photo comes in:

After one bite, I felt happy (and free!) just like those Fridays with my friends— and that night, my endive and beet salad never tasted so good!