Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 9
MILL CREEK STORIES
ideas, it's all, "I don't need a thing." Fine. What size do
think your don't-need-a-thing wears now? Would you
like your don't-need-a-thing in blue or green? Would
you prefer your don't-need-a-thing as version 9.0 or do
you want the latest upgrade don't-need-a-thing?
I know he gets frustrated with me, too. I mean, every
year, every occasion, every time he asks me what I want,
it's the same. A puppy. I always want a puppy or a dog.
My goal for retirement is to be able to afford all the dogs
I want. That's another reason I buy lottery tickets. Perhaps we can combine our retirement desires and have
a lovely, breezy island full of dogs. Common goals are
good. They're the key to a solid relationship. Compatibility counts.
Every so often Patrick will ask for one specific thing,
and that thing is always See's candy. See's is an old candy shop based in California and they make some truly
scrumptious chocolates. They're not easy to find on this
side of the country, so it is a special treat. Whenever I
can, I order his favorite milk chocolate with nuts from
See's. I guess other than puppies, I love seafood. If all
else fails, I can count on my husband to walk in with
three pounds of jumbo shrimp or sea scallops and I am
as happy as a clam, so to speak. Not something you can
gift wrap, but always appreciated. Bonus points, since
neither seafood nor chocolates ever need to be dusted.
Of course, no matter how many times I hear that he
doesn't need a thing, I have to buy a thing. It just feels
wrong to skip a major life event like an anniversary or a
birthday without presenting a wrapped thing. He bows
to the same societal pressure. That's how we end up with
gift-wrapped things that we hope will be appreciated by
each other but we're never quite sure.
One Christmas morning, we're settling down in the
living room with mugs of coffee and prettily wrapped
boxes to celebrate the season. We both pick up boxes
and start peeling paper off. Almost simultaneously, we
both lift out identical red VW van coffee mugs and start
laughing. Yep, we are just that compatible. We bought
each other the exact same gift. Patrick ordered mine
from the other side of the world. I got his in a little local
mom-and-pop shop. Out of the four colors offered, we
both chose red. Now we are the proud owners of matching don't-need-a-things.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
9
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 5
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 6
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 7
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 8
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 10
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 12
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 13
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 14
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 16
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 18
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 20
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 22
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 24
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 26
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 28
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 32
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 34
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 36
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 38
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 40
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 43
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Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 45
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 46
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 48
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 50
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 51
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 52
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 53
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 54
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 55
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 56
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 57
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 58
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 59
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 60
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 61
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 62
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 63
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 64
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 65
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - 66
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - January/February 2020 - Cover4
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