Longing For The Way Things Used To Be

Borrowing the opening line of Daphne Du Maurier’s captivating book, ‘Rebecca’: “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again,” Last night I dreamt I went to Aunt Bee's in Cochranton, Pa. again.

Oh, how I fervently wish I still could.

Memories of visiting Aunt Bee’s on the way to Washington, D.C. takes me back to an era, I nostalgically call “The Way Things Used To Be,” back to those long ago days when CFP could travel at least twice a year to Washington, D.C.; back to indelible memories of dear friends whose friendships were to last a lifetime; friends like former Pennsylvania Congressman Curt Weldon, in whose office back then, I once met a young and brilliant Jack Posobiec, who CFP follows online to this very day.

We were on the way to meet Weldon in person after months of Saturday morning telephone calls, the first time we discovered the remarkable restaurant.

“In October 2005, Weldon gave a speech on the House floor in which he described the Able Danger military intelligence program, stating they correctly identified Mohamed Atta's Brooklyn cell in January and February 2000, a year prior to the (9/11) attacks. He also claimed they were repeatedly blocked by litigation from delivering their findings to the FBI in September 2000.” (Wikipedia)

The 10-term Pennsylvania congressman was talking about the secret military intelligence program called Able Danger, which had linked four of the 9/11 hijackers to al- Qaeda more than a year prior to the terrorist attacks, when Canada Free Press visited him in his office in February, 2005.

During our visit, Weldon spoke of being persona non-grata not only to Democrats, but also to many of his Republican colleagues.

Well aware that some folk don't welcome hearing the truth, Weldon kept tilting at windmills.

"I'll never give up on Able Danger," were the last words he uttered to CFP.

If it weren’t for going to meet Weldon in D.C., we would never have stumbled upon the treasure called Aunt Bee’s

“Being at Aunt Bee’s was like coming in to your favourite auntie's own cozy kitchen from the howling winds of winter and worrisome radio weather warnings of coming blizzards. (CFP, February, 2006)

“And just to think we almost missed it. Having missed the last exit driving back to Toronto from Washington, a puckish Canada Free Press threesome decided they would stop at the very next restaurant they spotted.

“Off of 1-79 in Cochranton, Pa.

"Pennsylvania, there was a little restaurant called Aunt Bee's. We knew we'd come to the right place when we spotted signs that homemade peach pie, banana cream and coconut cream pie were just some of the goodies served daily from the kitchen.

“Aunt Bee’s was, (and likely still is), a scene straight out of a 1950s movie. Down to earth grub, down to earth patrons, comforting, cozy and loaded with a kind of indelible charm. The kind of place where truck drivers warm ham-sized hands over steaming mugs of coffee.

“Blowing in with the wind were other travelers of the road, glad to come in from the cold, some a little bewildered but still hoping for the best.

“Snippets of conversations drifted our way as we tucked into our homemade goodies, with the waitress stopping by to refill our coffee cups.

“A trucker spoke of an accident he had passed on the way. “Sure would like to lay-up here a bit before heading through that coming blizzard in the mountains,” he mused.

“There was good natured banter between some of “the regulars” and staff about one of the waitresses who had recently taken up with a “city slicker”.

“This dude knows a lot about computers but can't even start up his own vehicle without stalling it,” guffawed one of the regulars wearing an Aunt Bee baseball cap.

“CFP photographer, Dan Carrier, who couldn't get over the 35-cent chewing gum package he spotted in a display case with Lifesavers and cough drops, asked, “When's the last time anyone saw something like that?”

“Aunt Bee’s was known for miles around for its homemade pies. The peach pie was heavenly, the peaches certainly canned by Aunt Bee and not by any supermarket giant.

“Sitting there hearing the everyday conversation of small town folk, we came to eventually realize that the elegant looking lady, the one who talked with graceful, long-fingered hands was Aunt Bee, a Café Queen, whose anecdotes came loaded with common sense.

“An Internet description on Layover.com describes Aunt Bee's as having a good staff “that is always friendly and up for a good conversation.”

“There is plenty of space to park your truck. Also there's a fueling and service station next door and a bar across the street.

“This is an excellent place for a truck driver to stop. That is exit 141 (old exit 35) off of 1-79.”

“Aunt Bee's in Cochranton, Pa is one of those rare finds along the traveler's weary way that makes them want to come back again and again.”

This morning after my dream, I was thrilled to discover online that Aunt Bee’s is still up and running, particularly when during COVID, CFP had to pack up office and home, leaving Ontario for Nova Scotia when PM Justin Trudeau threatened to freeze the bank accounts of all of those who supported the Freedom Convoy truckers who converged upon Ottawa , demanding the removal of Covid mandates.

The truckers, successful in their mandate demands were sadly sent broke by their own Government.

Back in the day of our visits to Aunt Bee’s, who would ever have guessed that the day would come when political upheaval in America, soaring inflation, including the high price of gas would keep folk from being able to travel there?

Inflation that followed in the aftermath of the COVID panic makes life tough, but I remain grateful for my memories of The Way Things Used To Be, hoping at heart and soul that they will some day return.