Mickey D's 50th

Today is McDonald's 50th Anniversary. Say what you will about the health implications of fast food, Ray Kroc certainly launched a powerful cultural behemoth. Leveraging the American obsessions with being on the go and the automobile culture, the golden arches have evolved into an everpresent symbol of the best and worst of the nation, not only here, but around the world as well.

My memories of the early days of McDonald's in New Jersey (Route 18 in East Brunswick, late 50's, early 60's) include making a big deal of eating in the car, with my sisters and I in the back seat, with our food "tabled" on the package shelf under the rear window of our 58 Plymouth Savoy (or was it the 54 Chevy BelAir?), dipping fries into the "triple thick shakes." Today, it's more of "road food" burgers, grabbed from the drive through and eaten behind the wheel or the occasional Egg McMuffin breakfast (no meat, no butter for my wife). However, everyonce in a while, despite my usual taste preference for Wendy's burgers, and Burger King's Whoppers and fries, I must admit that I get the occasional hankering for two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.

Followed by my daily doses of Pravachol and Glucophage. Better living through chemistry.