The Slow Food USA Blog

Dear McDonald’s: Happy Birthday!

Posted on Fri, April 15, 2011 by Jerusha Klemperer
4 Comments | Categories: Uncategorized,

Dear McDonald’s,

Happy Birthday! Don’t be mad, but I didn’t get you anything. It’s not that 56 isn’t a big important milestone. It means you’re old enough to retire! (something to consider?)

One of the first birthday parties I ever went to was at a McDonald’s. It was Tiffany’s party, on the lower level of a Manhattan McDonald’s. We had balloons on the backs of our chairs, and were served ice cream cake at the end.

It wasn’t my first time in a McDonald’s though. I grew up across the street from you and one of my first foods was a McD’s french fry. I loved the little paper bag they came in, how it became translucent with fryer grease as I slowly made my way through the bag. I loved the chairs and how they swiveled on their axes, allowing me to spin half way around and back again, bopping my head from side to side and sucking on a fry like it was a lollipop.

This was in 1978 or so, when you were a young 23 year-old company, and just beginning your world travels. I gotta say, it was kind of a genius move, McDonald’s, inviting little kids in for parties, inscribing McD’s into our earliest memories of celebration. You lured me in with Happy Meals (it’s true! They make you happy!); kept me occupied with plastic toys; left me grinning with each sweet/salty/greasy bite. Left me so hungry for McDonald’s I sought you out on family vacation to France.

I must confess, though, that something happened to me. You probably didn’t notice and I can’t say exactly how or why it happened, but I stopped spending birthdays with you. I haven’t even visited for so much as a large fries in what might be close to 20 years. And not to get you really p.o’d but it’s not that I don’t eat french fries, it’s just that I don’t eat them with you.

But enough about me—this is about you! You’ve come a long way since opening that first franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois. And while I’m not sorry that we’ve parted ways over the years, I figured I’d take a moment to say “Happy Birthday” McDonald’s—hope you get to eat an apple pie in celebration (baked, these days, not fried).

Best,
Jerusha

Member Comments

From Damien Casten on Fri, April 15, 2011

Funny Jerusha, I have followed a similar arc in my relationship with McDonald’s and can add Indonesia and Thailand to countries where I sought out the golden arches as a highschooler. What I wouldn’t give to have those meals back right now, or to be able to trade them for just one local soup in either place.

I’m a long way away from those places, literally and gastronomically now, and have joined a team trying to help another group of people eat local. If any of your readers would like to help us celebrate something worthwhile here in Chicago, they should come out to the preSERVE garden volunteer day that we are hosting with Slow Food Chicago tomorrow (Saturday, April 16th). It’s a neighborhood space in the middle of what can be considered a food desert. We had Josh Viertel out to help us harvest last year, but we don’t insist that our volunteers be internationally known foodies, we just want a few strong backs. Here is the site for more info: http://www.slowfoodchicago.org/index.php/preserve-garden/

We’d even accept retirees!

From FoodFitnessFreshAir on Fri, April 15, 2011

Great read. I agree…Seems like a good time for their retirement

From Martha Ellen Teeter on Fri, April 15, 2011

enjoyed your post, thanks
My sister and I actually worked 2 summer jobs at the local McDonalds (gained 20 lbs). The uniforms way back then were mustard yellow dresses. My twin sister had stopped shaving her legs (it was the 60’) and wore waffle sole hiking boots - it was a great time, but alas Dear McDonalds I’ve outgrown you and your greasy french fry ways.

From weRstilNotFree on Wed, April 20, 2011

So true! they need to move into the real needs of children….i’m not lovin it anymore! ...