The pings kept coming and I was a little concerned.

I was at a recent medical appointment, on the special chair in a, shall we say, vulnerable position.

From the pocket of my jacket came the repeated pings.

乌鸦传媒淒o you want to check that?乌鸦传媒� I was asked, politely.

乌鸦传媒淣o, it乌鸦传媒檚 all good,乌鸦传媒� I said with a bit of false bravado.

A few minutes later, I was headed back to my car, when I see the little red 乌鸦传媒�6乌鸦传媒� beside the texts icon on my phone.

Now, six new text messages might not be a lot for you young folks out there, but for an old guy, that乌鸦传媒檚 blowing up.

At first I worried something horrid had happened, since there are very few reasons I乌鸦传媒檇 get that many texts in a very small time period.

Generally, it would be my clownish pals reminding me of a particularly vexing loss by one of my favoured pro sports teams.

And, I reasoned, if it was anything really bad, the phone would have rang.

So, what could it be that was so pressing?

Turns out it was indeed huge news.

The McRib is coming back.

I乌鸦传媒檒l give you all a minute to contain your joy.

That乌鸦传媒檚 right, after being deprived of its glory for a full decade, the McRib is coming back to Canada (for a limited time at participating restaurants, beginning Jan. 30).

Worlds need to align so the McRib and Shamrock Shake are available at the same time.

乌鸦传媒� Philip Wolf (@philipwolf13)

If you乌鸦传媒檙e wondering what the McRib is, allow my forever 12-year-old palate to fill you in.

Directly from McDonald乌鸦传媒檚: 乌鸦传媒淭he McRib starts with a tender and juicy boneless pork patty dipped in tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tasty pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun. It乌鸦传媒檚 no surprise this sandwich is an icon, with its uniquely delicious balance of sweet, tangy and savoury flavours.乌鸦传媒�

Sold yet?

A little back story. My 乌鸦传媒榣ove乌鸦传媒� for the McRib is a bit of an inside joke among family and friends. I routinely hype up its gloriousness and they mock me for my lack of culinary sophistication.

Thus, the texts.

乌鸦传媒淒id you see the McRib is coming back?乌鸦传媒�

乌鸦传媒淭he McRib is coming back. Gross.乌鸦传媒�

And a few more. Noting how happy I must be and reminding me how they乌鸦传媒檇 never try one.

Their loss.

Truth be told, it乌鸦传媒檚 more about the humour of it all (routinely reminding everyone of the McRib乌鸦传媒檚 greatness) than it is the actual product itself.

I can actually get along just fine without any McRibs, thanks. But, like many 12-year-olds with unrefined palates, I乌鸦传媒檓 a sucker for marketing.

My other specific weakness in this area is sugary breakfast cereals. If there乌鸦传媒檚 something new in the grocery aisle (like any version of 乌鸦传媒楾oast Crunch乌鸦传媒�), I pretty much have to have it.

Of course, I乌鸦传媒檒l eat a quarter of a bowl and then it sits hidden on the Lazy Susan until it乌鸦传媒檚 expired, but that乌鸦传媒檚 not the point. I乌鸦传媒檓 weak and I can乌鸦传媒檛 resist.

That乌鸦传媒檚 how it is with the McRib. They know absence makes the heart grow fonder, so they withhold it from us. They claim it乌鸦传媒檚 some sort of supply issue with the formed frozen pork patties but I say nay, you乌鸦传媒檙e just toying with us.

乌鸦传媒淚n the last year alone, our team received thousands of inquiries on social media from very passionate Canadian McRib fans asking to bring it back here,乌鸦传媒� said Alyssa Buetikofer, vice president and chief marketing officer at McDonald乌鸦传媒檚 Canada. 乌鸦传媒淭he McRib is truly a fan favourite. It appeals to guests of all ages乌鸦传媒攆rom loyal followers who have patiently waited a decade for its return, to our newer fans who have only heard the legend.乌鸦传媒�

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Now, there乌鸦传媒檚 only one problem this time around.

As I continue recovery from surgery following a series of unfortunate events that would make Lemony Snicket blush, I really shouldn乌鸦传媒檛 be eating a McRib.

I乌鸦传媒檝e done a reasonable job of altering my diet accordingly the last few months.

As I write this, I am munching on the delight that is a small veggie tray. Mmm, soggy celery.

But this represents the biggest test along my newfound nutritional path.

Last time the McRib rolled around, my then-teenaged son and myself (important to pass along the legacy, right McDonald乌鸦传媒檚?) made way too many trips to the drive-thru.

This time, I乌鸦传媒檒l be taking his 12-year-old little brother (we乌鸦传媒檙e palate equals!), since he乌鸦传媒檚 only ever heard the legend.

I乌鸦传媒檝e resolved to only eat only a couple of bites of one, once. After that, it will be full avoidance.

It will be a remarkable test of my newfound willpower (it乌鸦传媒檚 OK if you乌鸦传媒檝e been silently judging me all the way through this), especially given that now I could have 39 of them delivered right to my door if I wanted.

And after those couple of bites, and the passing along of the legacy, I乌鸦传媒檒l continue my routine, with the sole goal of ensuring I乌鸦传媒檓 in peak health the next time the McRib makes its grand re-return.

I乌鸦传媒檒l be ready, Ronald.

/ editor can be reached at 250-905-0029 or via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca.