Posted inMark LaFlamme

Talk of the town

Wheelz Monday afternoon. It’s gray and cold and I’m riding my motorcycle through the Central Maine Medical Center lot, on the way back from a muddy ride. There’s an older woman sitting next to the road in a wheelchair. She’s wrapped in a blanket and apparently waiting for her ride. As I approach, slowly, I […]

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Posted inMark LaFlamme

Street Talk: Recalling the many faces of Lisbon and Main

The dude worked Lisbon Street like he knew his way around. Like he owned the place, in fact. He wore a shiny leather coat and his hair was neatly groomed. He ducked into a specialty liquor place and emerged with a bottle of wine. A few doors down, he slipped into a health food restaurant, […]

Posted inMark LaFlamme

Talk of the town

Up in smoke Wednesday afternoon, at the top of the courthouse steps in Auburn, I found an empty pack of cigarettes with a message scrawled on the side. It was soggy and the letters were starting to run, but the bright pink message was very clear. It said: “I love you!” Out there on the […]

Posted inAdvertiser Democrat, Mark LaFlamme

Celebrating a disordered mind

Oh, boy! It’s here! The long wait is over. Pull the kids out of school and knock off a little bit early from work. Decorate your home and invite a few people over, why don’t you? ‘Tis time to rejoice and spread good cheer, remembering always that this day comes but once a year. Does […]

Posted inMark LaFlamme

Talk of the town

My shame is great For years, I’ve been tooling on you ween . . . you people who frequently sport sweater vests. I’ve made fun of you relentlessly and without remorse. What a jerk, huh? Well, fear not. Comeuppance is at hand. Recently, some weasel from the old block posted on Facebook some photos of […]

Posted inMark LaFlamme

Street Talk: I just want to be different

In place of my usual rantings this morning, I’d like to spend this time reading you a poem that’s very dear to me. Ha-ha! I’m kidding! A poem! Can you imagine? You should see your face. Forgive my mirth. What I’d really like to do today is to strap a big ponytail onto this column. […]

Posted inMark LaFlamme, sj-web

Talk of the town

Summer with Vultures When I first saw this headline in Wednesday’s Sun Journal, I thought it was the title of a book by one of our seasonal interns.  I laughed, I cried, I wore a panty shield I’m going to just come right out and confess. I actually watched a Lifetime Channel movie the other […]

Posted inMark LaFlamme

Street Talk: Crying in my pumpkin beer

Good morning, deranged person. I see you sitting there with your big, fuzzy slippers (the French call them ‘pee shoes’), your steaming cup of cocoa and your fresh-off-the-press copy of Leaf Peeper Times. The crisp, cool air outside is tempered by the crackling heat of the wood stove. You have a bowl of candy corn […]

Posted inMark LaFlamme

Talk of the town: Frost on the pumpkin

Frost on the pumpkin I couldn’t be more furious. I first spotted one sitting on a doorstep in a quiet Lewiston neighborhood. A fluke, I figured. Some mentally unbalanced person put it there at random. Tomorrow she’ll put a grapefruit on her steps. Maybe a toaster oven a day after that. But there are more […]