Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 73

Elaine retrieved a datebook from her
pocketbook, flipped pages, and said, " No,
I have dates both those nights, too. "
Saturated with desperation and despair,
I pressed on. " How about Friday
night, three weeks from now? "
" No, " she said after flipping more
pages. " I have a date then, too. "
The poet John Greenleaf Whittier
once penned these lines:
For all sad words of tongue and pen,
The saddest are these,
" It might have been. "
I had endured three years of longing
for what I considered the perfect female.
Many times I had imagined what it
would be like to date her, marry her, even
have children with her... live as a family
with her out in the country in these
mountains. What might have been are
indeed the most wretched words known
to man or woman.
Devastated, I started to say goodbye forever
to Carolyn Elaine Adams, but something
allowed me to croak, " How about
Saturday night, three weeks from now? "
She flipped a page of that insidious
datebook and said, " I'm free that SaturMany
times I had imagined
what it would be like to date
her, marry her, even have
children with her...
day. I'll pencil you in. "
Penciling someone in for any kind of
meeting is not exactly a ringing endorsement
that the future event will happen.
So I was not surprised three days later
when Elaine called, automatically assuming
that she was about to cancel our
date. Instead, she announced that she
had an " unexpected opening " for the
coming Friday and would I like to have
our first date then?
Shocked, I stuttered " Yes, " and that
Friday evening when we arrived at a restaurant,
I brazenly held her hand for the
first time.
When we sat down, Elaine said, " I
didn't like it when you held my hand...
but then I did. "
On our fifth date, Elaine confessed
(probably to her amazement) that she
was in love with me. I said I loved her
too and promptly asked her to marry me.
She said yes - an affirmative that still astonishes
me after nearly 44 years of blissful
marriage.
And 14 miles from Camp Easter Seal,
we live in a cove above a creek in these
Blue Ridge mountains; across the hollow
dwell our daughter, her husband, and
our two grandchildren.
LEADING SELLER
of
mountain
PROPERTIES SINCE 1925
United Country Real Estate is selling more land thanever.
With a private, in-house advertising agency, unmatched
technology and national property marketing, joining
United Country Real Estate helps you sell more.
COMBINED CATEGORIES OF
MOUNTAIN, LOG HOME &
CABINS SOLD INCREASED
20%
STUNNING CUSTOM HOME
$749,900 | Virginia | #45038-13493
844.415.8959 | GrowWithUC.com | JoinUs@UnitedCountry.com
LEARN MORE ABOUT AMERICA'S LEADER IN LAND SALES
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 73
http://www.GrowWithUC.com

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022

Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 1
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 2
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 3
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 4
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 5
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 6
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 7
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 8
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 9
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 10
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 11
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 12
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 13
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 14
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 15
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 16
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 17
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 18
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 19
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 20
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 21
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 22
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 23
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 24
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 25
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 26
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 27
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 28
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 29
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 30
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 31
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 32
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 33
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 34
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 35
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 36
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 37
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 38
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 39
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 40
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 41
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 42
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 43
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 44
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 45
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 46
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 47
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 48
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 49
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 50
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 51
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 52
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 53
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 54
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 55
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 56
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 57
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 58
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 59
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 60
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 61
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 62
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 63
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 64
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 65
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 66
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 67
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 68
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 69
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 70
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 71
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 72
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 73
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 74
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 75
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 76
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 77
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 78
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 79
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 80
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 81
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 82
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 83
Blue Ridge Country January/February 2022 - 84
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