As I drove home last night after the usual day of trials and tribulations at work, I found myself asking myself “Have I had my break today?”. To which I had to answer, “By James! I have not!”. Moments later, I was pulling into a McDonalds parking lot, ordering at the counter, and answering the classic final transaction question “for here or to go?” with a hesitant “for here…?” (which is a stark change for me, the avid “to go-er”).
Eating my McRib Extra Value Meal at one of the booths, a consistent and uncontrollable tapping of foot and bobbing of head took over my body, one song after another. The ecletic mix of classic gems I hadn’t heard in ages and modern hits was extraordinary.
I have always had a strange curiosity with culinary d.j.-ing, and more importantly, a desire for the opportunities presented by a “now hiring” sign.
It is a critical, yet largely overlooked mood-setting role, but maybe, that’s how it’s meant to be. Surreptitiously blending in and adding to the dining experience, but never peaking its head out from the crowd enough to be overly noticed.
In that sense, maybe the weekday evening night shift d.j. at the stadium McDonald’s did a bad job. Or maybe he just has big dreams. Truthfully, you can’t fault him either way.