Dear Allison,

My lovely Ally-san! 😊 How are you and your boyfriend today? Of course I mean Forest! Could you find someone else so tall, dark, and handsome? As Thomas Wyatt said, allegedly about and to Anne Boleyn, “say nay, say nay, for shame.” I am attempting to enjoy the sunrise. Mr. H and I have already had a spat today. He couldn’t just give me a straight answer about the status of our finances and started saying things like “unless you’re planning to eat at Ruth’s Chris.” Which is already irritating because it’s a dumb name for a restaurant. And there is no Ruth’s Chris in Little Washington. And it is not unexpected to have “unexpected” expenses when you travel. And my family does tend to like to frequent places with little regard for pricing. So maybe we should pad the budget, I don’t know. It’s not ridiculous to want to talk about this.

Anyway.

Yes, he is home. We are traveling today, as you can see. The big, grand, ol’ Jernigan family reunion is theoretically this weekend. No one has called me to tell me different, so we are going to get on the road later this afternoon. I obviously have many domestic tasks to accomplish by then because I just do. I don’t work in a factory; I work in my home. So shit takes longer. And there has been soooo much laundry this week. I don’t know exactly why…partially, yes, but it’s like a laundry perfect storm…so I’ve been folding and folding. The kitchen is in an uproar. But the patio looks excellent, and the other rooms are okay, if dusty. I suppose we will just abandon Mr. Bingley to his devices. :-/ I don’t like doing that, but I don’t have another plan. I think he’ll be okay, poor boy. He will have everything he needs, physically. I’m just not in a good place with his parents right now, so I don’t want to ask them. He has a treat ball, and we can leave sundry bowls and dishes of hydration and sustenance. I will give him massive cuddles when we get back.

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45594/and-wilt-thou-leave-me-thus

I shall have to tell you about the nice place we are going to. It has five acres and a fenced-in yard for Ms. B because of course she is going with. Hang on. Let me find it. There it is! Isn’t it cute? There we can try out “country living” for a few days. I know it already seems like we are in the country, relative to where you are in Raleigh. But we are really in the heart of the ‘burbs. It is quite loud here with traffic and all sorts all the time. It is just that it has that country flair from the surrounding area. I compare it to the culture in Garner. This place that we will be staying at is much more rural and also quite watery, as it lies next to the Pamlico River where it is close to the sea. I am looking forward to the peace.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/51967786?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

I shall close here. All my columns are jumping around, and I am catching a chill as the morning breeze picks up. I hope you will have a groovy weekend and think good and kind thoughts. I hope all the sweetness of life comes to you and yours. Be excellent to each other.

Namaste and live long and prosper—

Case Study #69

What We’re Watching Today: