Cosmic Connections

A Circular Bit of History

- Budd Davisson

It was the night before last Thanksgiving, and I was eating a pizza in bed watching television with my wife. My phone made its insistent you-have-a-text sound, and as I hit the button, I didn’t know that one of the more unusual mini episodes of my life was about to come full circle.

“Is this Budd?” an unknown texter asked.

“Depends. Who is this?” a wary pizza eater said.

“My name is Julian. I found an article that you wrote online. I believe you have my great-grandfather’s knives.”

I sat up in bed. I was just a little startled. I knew who this had to be but didn’t believe it! I needed proof.

“What was his name, and where was he from?” I knew the answer but wanted to see it.

“Second Lieutenant Arlyn Linde. He flew B-24s in WW II and lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.” A message in a journalistic bottle that I had launched some six years ago had found its way into the right hands. I absolutely couldn’t believe it!