When I was about three, McDonald's ran commercials featuring "McDonaldland", a tacky Oz-esque wonderland overflowing with burgers, fries, and mutants. I hated it. Ronald was creepy, Mayor McCheese was a burger headed freak with a quivering nose, and Cap'n Crook looked like the scary old neighbor who you weren't supposed to go near.
The "Apple Pie Trees" were the worst. They were supersized evil clowns. They'd lurch around and grin at the camera with a mouths big enough to bite my head off. They terrified me. Each time the commercials ran, I flipped.
My dad tried to calm me down. "Those trees are just costumes," he told me. "Actually there's bunny rabbits wearing the costumes."
This notion proved almost as disturbing as the Apple Pie Trees. Bunny rabbits grow that tall? my three-year-old brain wondered, And why do they dress up like trees? To scare people?
Who knew bunny rabbits could be so mean?
Update:
Click here to see a commercial with the Evil Trees.
8 comments:
This one is really great. I'm laughing out loud.
During a spell of INSOMNIA last night I got to thinking that these childhood stories would make a great graphic novel. I assume you've seen Persepolis. I don't know how hard it is to get one published though.
Hey, thanks for all the compliments, Sally. Sorry to hear about your insomnia!
I do like the graphic novel idea. A few people have started to nag me about getting my stuff "published for real" (as if it was as easy as getting a new haircut). I bet publication is a tough nut to crack. Not that that's an excuse for not trying.
Thanks for that link to the McDonald's commercial---What a blast from the past!
Thanks for your always interesting posts...
That is one nightmare of a commercial. No wonder the eucalyptus tree out your back window scared the daylights out of you.
About your graphic novel ... You could use your Slice of Life illo for the cover and call it SLICES OF LIFE.
Still reading...still lurking.
Just so you know...
Glad you liked the link to the McDonald's commercial, Walterworld. It just occurred to me that they probably threw in the "Apple Pie Trees" element because it rhymed with "Mayor McCheese".
Yep, Linda, I think that add paved the way to me being spooked by the eucalyptus. I'm surprised I didn't develop a cheeseburger phobia too. Good title idea too.
Thanks for the comment, stag. Lurkers (as well as comments) are always welcome. :)
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