“Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us, all we ask is that you let us serve it your way…”
Those, members of my generation may recall, are the lyrics from a Burger King jingle, I’m guessing mid 70’s? And that, at least as I remember him from commercials and artists’ renderings, is NOT the real Burger King. If it is, time has not been too kind, melting his face (possibly in a freak fry-o-later accident) and shrinking him to the size of a mere mortal. I once worked at Burger King, and he didn’t make the rounds to the store in which I worked, so I technically never saw him in person. Maybe TV does add pounds and stature?
What, I believe, was so appealing about the Burger King jingle, was the declaration that I could have it my way, at least as it concerned my burger order. And don’t we want things done our way? One of Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits was called “My Way”. And when we listen to it, we think in our minds, “That’s right, Frankie baby, you DID do it your way!” And when it comes to burger toppings or other frivolities, I wholeheartedly agree. It is good to be the king! That said, there are edicts I would enforce immediately if I were the king (not duke, not prince, not earl).
- Starbucks order. If your drink requires the use of more than 3 words to describe to the barista, you need to get out of line and come back when it is not busy, i.e. closed. Juan Valdez spins in his el graveo, or whatever they call those things in Columbia, every time soy, half-caf, or non-fat (to name a few) are mentioned in a coffee order. And sorry, Starbucks, no matter how proletariat small, medium, and large sound, could we just go with them? Speaking of which, have you seen the new Maserati sedan? It is called the Quattroporte, which means, in English, four door. ‘Nuff said.
- Paint colors (candle/soap scents, etc.) Every brave American that stormed a beach, took a hill, or captured an enemy would recoil in horror at the names given to anything with a tint or smell. From the Sherwin-Williams website, I found these names of paint colors, all of which made me throw up a little in my mouth. Consider: Quinoa. Most guys don’t even know what that stuff is, much less what it looks like. Woven Wicker. I have an unnatural hatred for wicker. I’m not going to paint a room and be reminded of it. Über Umber. WHAT??? Try these on for size, S-W: beige, tan, and brown. And beige is on thin ice, at least in my way of thinking.
My personal preference aside, having it our way, at least in the trivial matters of life, shouldn’t be an issue. But in areas where having it our way unnecessarily gives offense or causes contention, it would be a good idea to find out why. Now I’m not referring to someone on Facebook taking umbrage at your pro-cat video, but in relationships where it is important to maintain peace. Jesus would have us to do no less (Matt. 5:9).
(Click “Stand on Firmer Ground” for deeper look into Have It Your Way!)