Sometimes, it can’t hurt to let loose of your inner child and just be the playful, mischievous little devil you used to be.

I just came from a children’s party which was attended by full-grown working professionals: us. Every man, woman and inner child from our department who RSVPed affirmative to the invitations sent out a week before was present. The party was essentially a joint birthday and sendoff celebration. Five of us turned a year older this month while one member was assigned to work at an overseas affiliate company for a year. The party was held at McDonald’s.

It was a welcome change of environment as we came to the venue right after another long, routine-filled eight hours in the office. As expected from a kiddie party, there were balloons floating above the room like neon sentries, party hats featuring colorful cartoon characters and loot bags waiting on a table to be given out as parlor game prizes. Yes, there were parlor games, of course. Although they were of the cheap thrills and fast rides variety, the consensus among us kids at heart was that, quite simply, they were loads of fun. But, decidedly, not nearly as fun as when a special guest showed up right after we finished eating our Chicken McDo and McSpaghetti meals.

We wreaked havoc while eagerly waiting for the guest’s arrival. One of us had a chair above his head. Another grabbed the yellow Caution: Wet Floor sign and waved it around carelessly. We were hoping, wishing that it would be him. The suspense was killing us. It was a riot. Then, the collective excitement soared to a climax as, finally, he appeared. It really was him. In the flesh, purple fur and all, he was the one, the only, Grimace. And we went absolutely gaga over him.

Whatever he was supposed to be, whoever was underneath that costume, no matter how repulsive the smell of his fur was, we didn’t care. We were having the time of our lives with this most lovable of all fast-food chain mascots. We were letting the inner child in each of us break free, letting it go crazy and take pictures with him. We didn’t care. We were smiling and laughing. We were smiling and laughing with no less than Grimace himself. And that’s all that mattered tonight. That is, until we realized that upon waking up tomorrow, we’d all be our usual grown-up and serious-minded selves again. Now ain’t that just something to grimace about?