tomatoes tender_square "where were you?" "windsor; my family lives there." "what was the purpose of your visit?" "uh...it's easter." "are you bringing anything back from canada?" "yes. tomatoes." "what kind of tomatoes?" "cherry." "where are they?" "in the backseat there." "you can't bring cherry tomatoes across the border. regular ones, or sliced, fine. but not these." and the bulbous red beads pattered into the trash as he upturned their container dramatically above the bin. 220418 ... past a few years ago we sat in queue on the thousand islands bridge, on our way to escape the capital on canada day by crossing the border to hike, camp, and drink cheap good beer in the green mountains. as we slowly approached the border crossing, she looked at me and yelled "oh shit! the fruit!" leaning into the backseat she grabbed a day cooler full of peaches, blueberries, and pears. we shoved them in our faces as the queue inched forward. when our turn came, i passed out passports over with sticky hands and a mumbled "sorry." "y'all bringing anything across? fresh fruits or vegetables?" i gestured at the now empty cooler, swallowed the last bite, and eeked out a "no sir" before we were waved through, our honesty smeared purple on our faces. 220418 ... nr t_s, this made me laugh and shake my head. why... just why? immigration makes it so tempting to tell white lies. 220418 ... tender_square it felt absurd, nr! i wanted to ask the border guy what the difference between regular and cherry tomatoes was exactly, but he looked like he hated life and so i let it be. 220421 what's it to you? who go blather from