Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 7
MILL CREEK STORIES
a popular restaurant, elbow-toelbow
with the next table, while
the kitchen slides into the weeds
and the wait staff becomes overwhelmed.
What are we thinking,
going out on the busiest restaurant
night of the year, for a quiet,
romantic dinner? How was quiet
and romance supposed to take
place in the middle of crowded
chaos? Trick question, it can't.
The fix is not to participate
in the silliness. This is a problem
He wraps me
in comfort and
kindness every
day of the year.
Beat that, Saint
Valentine!
for you " on the day " people who believe that Valentine's
must be celebrated on February 14th or not at all. To have
a good experience, you have to show a little flexibility.
Your Valentine's might be on February 13th or the 15th
or the 20th or even March 1st. Roll with it. Do your thing.
Don't bow down to the golden calf of Hallmark. Make the
holiday what you want and when you want. Personalize
it for you, not to meet others' expectations.
My first husband celebrated only on the day. Great big
showstopping floral displays delivered to my office. They
looked like a cross between funeral flowers and an arrangment
in front of the minister's podium. They were just
big. Dinner on the night of the 14th. It was all very showy
and all very hollow. Being a true
introvert, my primary reaction to
those public dinners was stress:
The dinners weren't for me. The
goal was to show off, peacock
strutting, to complete strangers. I
felt like a prop. I did not feel-in
any shape or form-loved. Ick.
Make my therapy appointment
now. It got so bad I faked a Valentine's
Day illness on occasion.
Cough, cough. Sniff.
So how have I changed in my
approach to Valentine's Day? I got a brand new upgrade
husband who is far more sensible and kind. We celebrate
chocolate sales day instead. We celebrate when convenient.
We celebrate when the waiters aren't curled up in
a fetal position behind the bar to hide from barking-mad
lovers. And most importantly, we show each other we
love each other every smooching day, not when Hallmark
demands its due.
He notices my car needs to be inspected and just takes
it. He makes sure I have ice in the freezer for my beloved
iced tea. He lets me sleep if I've had a hard week at work.
He wraps me in comfort and kindness every day of the
year. Beat that, Saint Valentine!
THESCHOOLHOUSEHOTELWV.COM
125 Schoolhouse Way, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 | 304.536.0999
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 7
http://www.THESCHOOLHOUSEHOTELWV.COM
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 5
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 6
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 7
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 8
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 9
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 10
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 11
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 12
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 13
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 14
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 15
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 16
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 17
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 18
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 19
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 20
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 21
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 22
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 23
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 24
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 25
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 26
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 27
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 28
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 29
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 30
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 31
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 32
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 33
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 34
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 35
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 36
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 37
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 38
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 39
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 40
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 41
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 42
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 43
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 44
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 45
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 46
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 47
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 48
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 49
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 50
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 51
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 52
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 53
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 54
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 55
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 56
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 57
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 58
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 59
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 60
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 61
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 62
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 63
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 64
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 65
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 66
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 67
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 68
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 69
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 70
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 71
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 72
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 73
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 74
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 75
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 76
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 77
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 78
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 79
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 80
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 81
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 82
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 83
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 84
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 85
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 86
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 87
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 88
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 89
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 90
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 91
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 92
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 93
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 94
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 95
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 96
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 97
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - 98
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2023 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/brc-jf-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com