Vermont’s longest-running Cold War ended this week, with Seven Days waving the white flag and surrendering to Sen. Bernie Sanders.

It had been nine long years since Bernie had deigned to speak with Vermont’s leading weekly newspaper. The streak ended this week, with Seven Days accepting what was presumably a limited sit-down dedicated to one of the senator’s favorite issues, the plight of America’s senior citizens.

Ultimately it means little to nothing, but it made me a little sad. Way back in December 2017 when I helmed the gone-but-not-forgotten Fair Game column, I covered one of the great events of the Burlington social/political calendar: the late Tony Pomerleau’s annual Christmas shindig. It was a blatant exercise in noblesse oblige, with Pomerleau footing the bill for a big dinner and holiday gifts for selected members of the Queen City’s neediest. And every top-rank political type felt obliged to kiss Pomerleau’s ring, including America’s most notorious Democratic Socialist.

Bernie and Tony had a longstanding relationship, going back to the former’s first days as mayor of Burlington. Sanders had just won a shock victory in 1981, but he didn’t let it go to his head (at least not immediately). He realized he needed to find common ground with The Great and Good of Burlington, including its leading real estate mogul. The unlikely pair did indeed figure out how to work together, which helped get Sanders’ mayoralty off the ground and set the stage for his very successful political career.

Okay, I’m making a short story long. Point being, I wanted to get a quote or two from Sanders about this Odd Couple partnership. That was all. I approached him before the event, when he was glad-handing his way around the room. He seemed amenable at first, but that changed when I mentioned the magic words “Seven Days.” He said “Not right now” and turned away. He could have added “And not ever, either,” but it went without saying. At the time, Bernie held a grudge against Seven Days because it dared to cover some of his rare missteps. I was just caught in the crossfire.

As I walked up to him I started recording on my phone, and captured the entire 10-second exchange. I’ve saved it ever since for sentimental reasons, which is why I can quote it back to you now.

I did manage to snag his wife Jane. I quickly made my intentions clear — no questions about controversies, just a quote or two about the Bernie-Tony relationship. She obliged, and the quotes added significantly to my column.

Bernie had a bug up his butt about Seven Days because it had covered, fairly but without fear, some stuff that he would have preferred to keep out of the press. Like, for instance, Jane Sanders’ troubled tenure as president of Burlington College or his purchase of a summer home on a scenic promontory in North Hero. My column probably didn’t help matters, since I went on at length about the obvious contradiction between Bernie’s public profile and this hoity-toity holiday extravaganza.

The standoff between Sanders and Seven Days went on far longer than it had any reason to. But to end it like this? Just to get an inoffensive few minutes with Bernie that ties into Seven Days’ yearlong series on the graying of Vermont? It’s an underwhelming conclusion to something that began as a matter of principle: At earlier stages of the nine-year interregnum, the paper wouldn’t have dreamed of acquiescing to any conditions for a Bernie interview.

So now it’s over. The Seven Days story about the interview briefly acknowledges, without any explanation, that “This was his first interview with the paper in nine years.” Well, if they don’t want to bring up old grudges for fear of losing out on softball sit-downs with Vermont’s senior Senator, allow me to do the honors on their behalf.