diners club: carman's

...tripping back now to places you've been

The diner lies just across the bridge in Saint Stephen. Where eastern Maine flows into Canada. Where our teenage selves went for orthodontist appointments and visits to the chocolate factory.

Red stools, checkered linoleum. Like an American diner, with better coffee. Velvety as syrup. Wall-o-matic jukebox at every table, quarter for a song. My choice: “No Sugar Tonight.”

Barber shop across the street, raisin pie on the menu. Maple leaves pasted on the wall. The Specials board lit up like our childhood Lite-Brites.

Thanksgiving in Canada today, the poutine smothered in turkey and gravy.

Thankful for the sweetness of yesterday.