In search of Canadian Maple

I'm scanning the display quickly, up, down, left, right. Now each row again, now columns. I know the answer, I realize the truth immediately. Anxiety grips my body like a cool electric shock. The airport donut shop isn't carrying my donut anymore.

Before I leave I thank the woman for hearing my complaint. How is it, I wonder, that a Canadian institution such as Tim Horton's could drop their only product with the word 'Canadian' in its name from any of their outlets. The Canadian Maple donut.

I always felt good stepping up to the counter and proudly saying 'Canadian' Maple. I saw it as Tim's nod to its roots and I imagined people around the world ordering Canadian Maple donuts at their local outlet.

The commercial begins to take shape in my mind's eye.

A deserted dusty Kandahar street at dawn, a jeep rumbles right to left through the scene. Cut immediately to a close up of a bleary-eyed Afghani, next scene he enters a non-descript doorway. Cut to the interior of a brightly lit Tim's. Close up of a smiling employee's face, "how may I help you, sir." Close up of our Afghani proudly saying "Canadian Maple" as the strains of O Canada rise in the background.

Alas, the 'Canadian' was in trouble out here at the airport a couple of months ago. It suddenly disappeared for good after only ever being unavailable on the odd occasion. I'm not sure how many years I have enjoyed the maple icing and cream filling of my favourite donut on the hour-long drive home from work. Since it's disappearance the drive home has never been the same.

Adding injury to insult, My 'Canadian Maple' has fallen from the roster out here at the airport while it's American relative the Boston Cream has maintained its vaunted shelf status. (I write, feigning indignation. Had to get that Canadian-American comparison in there, too. Boston Cream is my fall back donut, after all.)

I was somewhat ameliorated by the brief presence of the Maple Crunch donut (a Canadian Maple by any other name) but that too has fallen into the dark abyss. I guess my sweet tooth, and my patriot urges, will have to be satisfied closer to home. The 'Valley' outlet still carries 'my' donut.