Why real change starts over a bowl of chowder

On Friday afternoon, I had lunch with two elderly neighbors at a local diner, where I was invited to try the best fish chowder around. They were right, the chowder was delicious and the conversation even better.

Both neighbors, now in their mid-eighties, know a lot about our town, its history and politics, and they had plenty to say about the changes they’ve seen over the years. They didn’t mince words, and I liked that. While it was obvious we didn’t agree on everything, it didn’t matter. We ke...