If you are keeping track, this was the third diner that Jack and I visited in one week. It was the end of a great summer, and I was just so happy to be able to spend time with my kids again. Max had grown a great deal in his first 3 months of life, and had so much personality. Jack was starting to talk using real words, and was somehow even more fun to be with. And we still let Winston live. At the end of the August we do a lot of traveling, so that we can see the many people we have missed all summer long. After an amazing trip to Martha's Vineyard we hopped on the ferry for the trip home. Realizing that we were getting hungry, I punched a request into our GPS, asking if there were any good diners in the area. Up came the Mill Pond in Wareham.

I've only been to Wareham once, back when our friends the Yorks still lived there. I didn't remember seeing the Mill Pond on any diner websites, or in any of the guide books. But as the sun began to set we pulled onto the Cranberry Highway, and there is was. The summer sun gleemed off of its chrome walls, as it slowly became dark enough for its neon sign to become noticable. I grabbed Jack and Deena got Max. As we walked in I turned to Jack and exclaimed "it's an O'Mahoney!" There, just above the entrance, was the tell-tale sign, heralding the birthplace of the diner. O'Mahoney's are diner masterpieces, and there are just too few of them left. The Corner Lunch in Worcester is half-O'Mahoney, and the Olympia in CT is maybe the greatest example left in the United States. But the Mill Pond was pretty special in its own right.

We walked in just about a half hour before closing time, so the place was almost empty. A man and a woman sat at the booth behind us, finishing their meal and talking about being in recovery. Our waitress, who spoke with a thick Polish accent, barely left our table. Our drinks came immediately, and she made an instant bond with Jack. I was a little afraid that if he sat on the outside of the booth she might take him, she was making such eyes at him. Jack stood on the seat of the booth, and waved at the man sitting behind us. He waved back, and started to talk to Jack. When he and his companion finished their meal they came over to our table to play with both of the boys. As they were leaving he shook my hand and remarked "God bless you, and God bless your family". So often people toss out that sort of a phrase with no meaning attached. But this man meant it, and I was touched. I wish the same to him.

As happy as I was to be there, and as positive an experience as it was, I must admit that there was a pretty unpleasant scent in our section. It smelled as if the cleaning crew hadn't replaced the mop water in some time. Our noses got used to it, and Deena was an incredible sport for not even mentioning it, but it was there. And it was not good. But the rest of our experience was terrific.

The Mill Pond had a surprisingly varied menu for a diner in a small town that's only on the way to other places. And its cuisine was clearly French Canadian influenced. After inquiring about the specialties of the house, I ordered a cup of the homemade minestrone soup, along with a slice of the pork pie with mashed potatoes and peas. Jack got grilled cheese and french fries, which continues to be his favorite restaurant meal. Deena got the chicken parm dinner and a mocha frappe. Max ate from the tap.

As is our custom, Jack and I got up to wander the diner. Somehow, as we had entered the diner, I had neglected to notice the jukebox. It probably had the best music selection that I have seen since the Sherwood Diner in Westport, CT removed its table-top boxes. I taught Jack how to load the dollar bills into the machine, and together we made our selections:

• God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
• Not Fade Away - Buddy Holly and the Crickets
• Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan
• Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
• Night Moves - Bob Seeger and the Silver Bullet Band
• Yes, It Is - The Beatles
• Since I Fell For You - The Righteous Brothers
• Just Like A Woman - Bob Dylan

Can you imagine a jukebox with a better set of selections? I would drive back to this place just for the music. We sang, we ate, and we laughed. We had the place to ourselves. My soup was superb, and my pork pie rivaled Irene Graveline's. I slathered it in mustard and greefully cleaned my plate. Jack seemed to cover his entire body in ketchup, and ate most of his grilled cheese. Deena said that her chicken was excellent, and raved to the waitress about the frappe.

We said goodbye to our new friend working the counter, and even stuck our heads into the kitchen to compliment the chef on her soup and pie. As we left, I carried Jack on my shoulders into the parking lot. The sun had just fallen below the horizon, and the neon sign of the diner now lit up the night. I took Jack off of my shoulders and hugged him a little harder than I probably should have.

The Mill Pond Diner
2571 Cranberry Hwy
Wareham, MA
(508) 295-9688