Sleet Seasonal Supplement — Winter 2010-2011
It has been my phone number since February, 1973 when I bought my first house. It spells “bed fatt” if you use the letters instead of the numbers.
“Is Jamie there?” "Is Jamie there?” “Is Jamie there?” only about a million more times (Laura),
Then, “Is Jamie there?” “Is Jamie there?” “Is Jamie there?” also a million times (Christen).
Once in awhile, “Is Jim there?” “Is Debbie there?”
But now, 37 years after my first call at “bed fatt” on Walnut St., a beautiful 32 year old girl is sitting on a beach at sunrise on Halong Bay, Viet Nam. And simply by pushing some magic numbers on a pre-paid cell phone (which wasn't even a dream in 1973), she listens to a ring. A familiar voice picks up.
“Hello?”
“Dad, you can't believe where I am. I'm on a beautiful beach watching the sunrise!”
“I can believe it. And I love you for sharing it with me...”
James Buehner (Thorn #1 to his Creative Writing teacher) grew up among cats and lakeflies on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. As a teacher, Mr. Thorn impacted over 4000 students. He does most of his thinking while riding his bike, and is the father of an artist and a writer.