Tonight I was looking through some of my old notes and letters I received back in my Wienermobile days and came across one of my favorites. I never met the person who wrote it, but I imagine now that she had a personality somewhat like my eldest daughter. Here is the note she left on the windshield of the Wienermobile while Jeanne and I were eating dinner at a nearby restaurant:
When we returned to the Wienermobile and read the note we immediately packed up two wiener whistles, a watch and a hot wheels Wienermobile and left them in the mailbox for Lindsey. It was the least we could do for a fan.
I remember people asking me why we smiled all the time when we drove the big dog around. Letters like this are the reason.
Lindsey Mulligan Where Are You Now?
13 comments:
Great post, Dan. And a tribute to the brand.
Thanks Sam.
I was trying to guess how old Lindsey was when she wrote that note. It was almost twelve years ago that I got the note from her. If she was say seven or eight years old at the time she would likely be in college somewhere.
I wonder if she'll apply to be a hotdogger. Wouldn't that be a kick?
She probably loves to eat them every day, and if you ask me why, I'll say: Because Dan Duff took the time to leave two whistles, a watch, and a matchbox in her mailbox - a guaranteed lifer for sure. Not a big deal for you, but it surely meant everything to that impressionable twelve (or so) year-old. Great story.
How does one go about contacting, and who does one contact about the Wienermoble for and event or other things...
Hey....
this might be strange... but i am lindsey mulligan.
i can remember that warm summer night in cooperstown like it happened just yesterday and how upset i was at my mother for making me go to bed at 9:30pm when all i wanted was to wait for you to return so i could sit in the weinermobile....
strange.... i would like to thank you for making my day with all the extra goodies that you left me...
so thank you!
-lindsey
I remember visiting Cooperstown. It was one of the first stops we made as Hotdoggers. And it was a beautiful summer night.
Thanks for finding the blog and posting. I'm glad to hear that you did in fact get the goodies (or as we say "wienermobilia").
But the question remains... Where are you now? And do you still have the whistle?
to answer your questions:
i am living in new york city, about to graduate in may with my masters and yes, i do still have my wistle. its sitting on a shelf at my house in cooperstown!
and it makes me happy to hear that i (or my little note) was a reason why you loved being a hotdogger!
I just wanted to say that I am Lindsey's mom. She sent the webpage to me today and was thrilled that you had kept that letter she wrote to you. I thought only mom's did stuff like that. I can't tell you how I had to convince her that it would be okay to write a letter. She so wanted to stay up. She was so thrilled the next morning to find all her goodies waiting for her. Thanks for making her day!
I am Lindsey's Aunt and I think this is a fabulous story. LIndsey is a beautiful young lady -inside and out--as sweet as the letter she wrote to you so long ago. I really think you two should meet and Lindsey should get a ride in the weinermobile!!!
Great idea on the ride! I'll drop a note to Oscar Mayer and put in a good word for you. They get so many requests that I wouldn't get your hopes up... but maybe a former Hotdogger may have some pull. We'll see.
Lindsey, I would be glad to forward your contact info to Oscar, just in case they are in your neck of the woods sometime. You can email me at carpeperdiem@sbcglobal.net. I won't share it with anyone other than the Wienermobile Dept at Oscar Mayer.
I am another Aunt of Lindsey's, and can remember her telling me on the phone about the weinermobile outside of her house in Cooperstown. She is an awesome young lady, of course I am partial because she is my God daughter. But it would be awesome if she did meet up with you and the weinermobile. She is a jet setter but I know she has not had a ride yet in the weinermobile. By the way I know that her whistle is still in Cooperstown too, not to mention her little brother then was so estatic about it as well. What a great story.
Mr. Duff,
It is rare in this world to find someone with such a commitment. I stumbled on your blog for no apparent reason, and subsequently on this post. It is great you got in touch with Lindsey again. And it is amazing you kept that letter.
It reminds me that it isn't always the big events you remember, sometimes memories are made because an eight year old girl just couldn't stay awake anymore, and had to write a letter.
Reading this story makes me realize what being a kid is all about. And how easy it was getting excited about something most adults take for granted.
I hope that never happens to you, Lindsey, or myself.
Wow. Weinermobile rules!
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