Sitting on the dock of the bay

One of my new hobbies in Caronport is the art of watching traffic; which seems ironic at first.  Obviously this is not an option one considers when one is caught up in the busy life of a student, but is drummed up when one is unemployed with little money, a scarce social life,  is far-enough away from family, and hasn't the option of mind-numbing television like everyone else.  However, aside from such a list, it does include my love for prairie scenery,  drinking coffee, and basking in the sun.  Caronport has its original coffeeshop "The Point" (known as the Pilgrim to former students) which allows me to enjoy such.  I have often found myself with nothing to do, but sit at the grand window facing the highway scratched on the prairie while warming myself  with java and the common star God uses to sustain life on this earth.  Somedays I  marvel in the grand prairie skies that provide a majestic canvas of fluffy clouds and a mosaic of colors at sunset.  Sometimes I marvel at the traffic which pumps travelers and commerce through this province on the vein of highway 1 or the grand rail snakes which cart grain and potash to distant lands.  Or I simply observe the cast of characters, who like I,  reside in this town from different areas and gather at this one place for coffee or subs.  The real interest, however, is often found in the few that venture off the highway to investigate this town and its gas station.
The other day, an old-timer pulled up in his beaten pick-up truck and wobbled in.  His weary knees plopped himself into a chair and he gazed around the coffee-shop for a few minutes.  Finally he looks to me and chirps, "Is it hard to get service here?"
I quickly replied, "Oh, there's no waitresses here.  What were you looking for?"
"They used to have great pie here; I'm looking for pie!" he exclaimed.
His comment took me back to my early days as a student here, when they did have great pies of many kinds and it saddened me to tell him, "They did have great pie, but those days are gone."
He nodded his head as he rose and said, " They're gone in many ways... I spend most of my time these days looking for great pie."
And with that he turned away and left.  I watched him drive away and resumed my stare on the prairie picture north of me.