NOTE: Ben Herman is a patient on the Hospice Floor at the Alvin C. York Veterans Hospital in Murfreesboro. He is a local legend when it comes to storytelling, shooting the breeze and making music. Jim, a speech therapist at the Medical Center provides Ben with a typewriter to capture his stories on paper. Ralph’s job is to pass them on to the Smithville Review.

The project is intended to be a "win/win". Good therapy for Ben and worthy of a chuckle or two for the readers.

A young man grew up in DeKalb County; way out in the country. He did well in high school, and upon graduation got an opportunity to go to New York City.

Before heading to the Big Apple, he was visiting some folks further on out the road from where his family lived. He told about all the wonderful sights and landmarks that were at the top of his list once there.

An elderly lady told the young man about her son who lived in New York City, but he had been a little tardy in corresponding with his mother. She requested that once the traveler got to his destination, it would be a huge favor if her son could be looked up and given a message.

John Dunn, the son, should be told and sternly given orders to "call his mama". Our young traveler from DeKalb County saw this as an opportunity to "do something good" especially at the request of the dear elderly mother. He promised to fulfill her request.

After the young DeKalb County traveler got to New York City, he began walking the many streets hoping to find a landmark or something that might be a clue to finding John Dunn.

He saw a sign on a building that read DUNN & BRADSTREET. He was almost jumping for joy. He was getting close to finding John. Or at least that was his first thought.

The young country boy was confident that he could just walk in and ask for John Dunn. That would be simple enough. Anyway, that would be the right way in finding someone back home. But as we all know, this was not back home.

He spotted a receptionist behind a large desk, approached her, and asked a question. "Do you have a John in this building?"

She responded in a sharp New York City accent, "Yes, down the hall, second door on the left."

The country boy did as he was told; walked down the hall, opened the second door on the left. He whispered to himself, "This must be the office for John Dunn."

Standing before him was a man washing his hands. This is strange. Washing his hands in an office? Oh well.

"Are you Dunn?"

The response was affirmative.

"Well, call your mama!"