EMILY PRATT SLATIN

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She/Her/Hers Lesbian

Retired Career Fire and EMS Lieutenant-Specialist, Writer, and Master Photographer, living in Vermont.

I Bought A First Class Ticket Because It Is Always Cold Where I Come From

November 5, 2026—Middletown Springs, Vermont (Home)

I left Buffalo and headed home this morning. There’s nothing left for me in New York. These are just places to me now.

Makayla is planning to go to California for the first time later this month. I bought a first class ticket because it’s always cold where I come from.

I stopped for brunch at Linda’s family diner in Corfu, NY. As soon as I walked in, everyone in the restaurant stopped talking and turned to see the only person from out of town… Me. Even the cook stepped out, while wiping his tired hands on the dish towel.

I was immediately offered coffee as soon as I sat down. I like diners where the coffee is offered before the menu. It establishes priorities. Nobody has ever made an important breakfast decision while insufficiently caffeinated and improved the outcome.

I ordered my food, and it was quickly brought to my table. Then, as I started eating, some guy who looked almost identical to President Bill Clinton walked in and asked if I was from Vermont. I asked why. He said I looked like someone who drives a Ford Bronco.

This man apparently knows everyone currently seated at the restaurant, and he starts making rounds to all the different tables. He stopped at my table twice even though I was seated alone.

I had a 5 and a half hour drive back to Vermont, which included a stop at Kashi Sushi in Queensbury to meet up with Maddie and Andrew.

This morning, I woke up to an email from the mailing list of my old summer camp. Apparently they were able to raise enough funds to save it from foreclosure, so they’re still running camp as usual as if nothing happened. There is also a camp reunion planned for August 2027. I’m not going. I have no need or desire to do so.

Just across the state line in Poultney, the road disappeared into the fog just beyond the headlights, giving the impression that the rest of the world had been temporarily discontinued.

And then I arrived at the farm. It was just as I left it.