…Oscar Meyer weiner. That is what I’d truly like to be.

(Did you sing the lyric in your head without even reading the line above?)

As a child, I ran with friends and played outside until the street lights came on. During the day you could find us on the basketball courts, playing pickle in the street, swinging at the wiffle ball or jumping the alley sidewalk on our bikes. “Kick the Can” and “Hide ‘n’ Seek” ruled the evenings. To keep up our strength amidst the flurry of activity, we often made pit stops into Grandma’s kitchen for bologna sandwiches or hot dogs accompanied by BBQ and ruffled potato chips. The cares of adult life and the weight of responsibility were far in the distance. What brand was usually emblazoned on the packages? Oscar Meyer.

Oscar Meyer has done a good job over the years of making themselves known in households across the country where kids reside. Two iconic reminders lead the charge; the Weinermobile and the Oscar Meyer weiner song.

There are a handful of triggers in my life that immediately transport me back to those days when the big decisions were whether or not to smash my chips inside the bologna and cheese sandwich, ketchup or mustard on the hot dog and which car or yard corner would be considered third base. The Weinermobile and corresponding song definitely do the trick. This past weekend, I took that journey when the Weinermobile made a stop at the KOA in Santa Paula, CA. I couldn’t pass up the chance to be a joyful youngster again and sneek a peek at the rolling lunchtime and barbecue staple.

Did I feel a little silly? Yes? Was it kinda cheesy? Most definitely. Do I highly recommend taking advantage of opportunities like this whenever possible? You betcha. Life moves fast, but the kid in you is still running along, trying to have fun. Let them catch up every now and then.

*For a little extra smile, I provided a link to the 1965 Oscar Meyer commercial with the weiner song.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.