Yesterday, we took one of our granddaughters on a grand day out. It pretty much went to plan, although I thought--fancifully, as it turned out--that we might take her to Les Madeleines for a pretty, magical lunch-stroke-snack. In actual life, we went to McDonald's, of course.
 |
| the granddaughter, at the beginning of the day out. |
Granddaughter: I want Chicken McNuggets, fries, and a milkshake.
Me: Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry?
Granddaughter: hmmm...chocolate.
The historian: I'll have a medium Coke and--do you have those yogurt parfaits?
Crackly speaker:
crackle crackle Yes.
Me: Medium Coke and large fries.
Crackly speaker: (
do I sense a faint derision?) crackle crackle dollars at the
crackle window.
Later, as we drove home, and I experienced a certain mild nausea stemming from my lunch:
Me: I think I've had just about enough of lunches made of Coke and french fries.
The historian: Yeah?
Me: In fact, maybe I've had enough of McDonald's to last me for the rest of my life.
This reminded both of us of an interview once conducted with Ruth, of Ruth's Diner, wherein she was asked, at age 80, if she ever thought she might remarry. She replied in the negative, saying, "I've had enough sex to last me the rest of my life."
Now, what else have I had enough of to last me the rest of my life? Besides McDonald's, I mean:
1. Possibly syndicated episodes of
Two and a Half Men. I had a spate there for awhile (several years ago, now), but I cannot currently drum up even the faintest interest. Certainly not in the Ashton Kutcher version, but also not in the old Charlie Sheens. That show is dead to me.
2. Possibly kung pao shrimp. It was once the best thing in the entire universe. Now: meh.
3. Almost every food you can buy in a convenience store. Is this sad? A little. Each road trip, however, edges me a little closer to closure on this point.
4. Maybe Doritos. But maybe not. But probably, actually (see 3 above).
My friend
Ann says probably she's had enough
5. Slim Jims
to last her the rest of her life (see 3 above also).
I might have had enough of
6. uncomfortable shoes. But maybe not. But probably. Mostly enough, anyway.
Some things I have not had enough of (excerpts from an inexhaustible list): cherries. Peaches. Tomatoes. Watermelon. Cheese in its multifarious glory. Naps. Lazy afternoons. Sufjan Stevens. White jeans in the summertime.
Justified. Poetry, despite the fact that it is lousy with frustrations. Literally
rife. Eating breakfast out--other meals, too--with friends and family. The birds chattering in the trees. Morning. Bruiser. Grandchildren. Nostalgia. Evening. Cake. Sleep.
