Cleo, what a beautiful reminder to look back to my own past. For me, that place was the 5 Point, right in the middle of the city but always the last place with its lights still on. A booth in a dark corner, always with the wrong guy, after a night of nervous excitement only to wake up the next day filled with longing and regret.
Well Cleo, you’ve managed to stoke past-midnight Price Chopper nostalgia I didn’t know I had. And a heaping scoop of homesickness for my own favorite New England diner, the Blue Benn, which (while not 24 hours) was THE destination for my posse of full-of-ourselves college weirdos on a weekend or any time a morning class was cancelled. I remember when my eyesight was good enough that I didn’t have to squint to read the tiny letters of the local business ads that covered the Blue Ben’s heavy mugs, always full and re-full and re-full of the same hot and mediocre coffee you describe. Like you, I think back to that part of my life and wince at all the times I thought a boy was more important than a friend. All the times I thought belonging in a group was more important than belonging to myself.
I didn’t know 18-year-old Cleo but I love her. Inside, she had everything she needed to make her way around the world and back to herself. Along the way you learned to be so, so kind to others, and eventually you were able to show that same kindness to yourself. 18-year-old Cleo’s heart is no less tender for the things she does not yet know. I hope that, even if you know better than to listen to her every time you find yourself at a crossroads, you always save some of that kindness for her.
Cleo, what a beautiful reminder to look back to my own past. For me, that place was the 5 Point, right in the middle of the city but always the last place with its lights still on. A booth in a dark corner, always with the wrong guy, after a night of nervous excitement only to wake up the next day filled with longing and regret.
You know I never went to the 5 point one single time? But I love that we all had a diner somewhere ❤️
Wonderful❤️ The things I’m finding out! Though I think you once mentioned that diner to me….
Well Cleo, you’ve managed to stoke past-midnight Price Chopper nostalgia I didn’t know I had. And a heaping scoop of homesickness for my own favorite New England diner, the Blue Benn, which (while not 24 hours) was THE destination for my posse of full-of-ourselves college weirdos on a weekend or any time a morning class was cancelled. I remember when my eyesight was good enough that I didn’t have to squint to read the tiny letters of the local business ads that covered the Blue Ben’s heavy mugs, always full and re-full and re-full of the same hot and mediocre coffee you describe. Like you, I think back to that part of my life and wince at all the times I thought a boy was more important than a friend. All the times I thought belonging in a group was more important than belonging to myself.
I didn’t know 18-year-old Cleo but I love her. Inside, she had everything she needed to make her way around the world and back to herself. Along the way you learned to be so, so kind to others, and eventually you were able to show that same kindness to yourself. 18-year-old Cleo’s heart is no less tender for the things she does not yet know. I hope that, even if you know better than to listen to her every time you find yourself at a crossroads, you always save some of that kindness for her.
I love the Blue Benn and I love you the most ❤️