Saturday, March 16, 2013

The Shamrock Shake Incident

The year was 1978.  At least I think it was.  All of my childhood memories seem to run together these days, but I do remember standing in line with my sister at MacDonald's and they were advertising their latest calendar, which we took home:


I think my grandma was with us that one fateful March day but I can't be entirely sure.  She might have been baby sitting my sister and I and even though my sister wasn't feeling well, she really wanted to come to MacDonald's with us, and she really wanted the coveted Shamrock shake. 

We loved the Shamrock Shake because it was sweet, and well, it was green.  I don't remember if it was minty back then, but it was yummy.



After sipping on our shakes for awhile we had to go home and I remember sitting in the backseat of our parents' station wagon with my mom driving in the front.  My sister still wasn't feeling well.  Do you see where I am going with this?  What happens when a kid isn't feeling well, drinks a green shake and then sits in the backseat of a car?

She throws up all over the backseat.

Next thing I know there is green everywhere, on the seat,  on the car floor, maybe a little on me.  Can't remember if my sister cried, but my mom turned around and saw the commotion and stayed calm.  We must have pulled over to clean it up, but after that day, I don't think my sister drank another Shamrock Shake again.  She was scarred for life.

I leave you with this ancient Irish Proverb and little bit of a warning for the holiday weekend:  He who drinks green, will throw up green.   

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!





3 comments:

Sarah said...

Mine would be green after that green margarita! Funny story.

theresa said...

St Patrick's Day = Green vomit!

robertjm said...

I remember those shakes. Back then "triple thick" REALLY meant a thick shake. You could actually turn them upside down for a moment, without them pouring out of the paper cup.

We used to buy five or six shamrock shakes at a time, and then throw the extras in the freezer so we'd have them for a couple weeks to come.