Some guys can take that. I can't. I don't sit around telling my woman how to live. I expect my woman to not go around telling me how the fuck to live....Is that too much to ask? I don't think it is.If I work hard, and make the bulk of the money, and without taking anything important away from her, I want to enjoy a $50,000 car on my commute to work, is that too much to ask? I mean, I make over a quarter of a million bucks a year. She makes like $40k. I think with how hard I work, I have the right. ”“Kara said that you have a house full of people so I’ll keep it short. I love you and can’t wait to see you for graduation!”“Same here!” I said.“Dad wants to talk to you.”He came on the line.“Happy birthday, Son,” he said.“Thanks,” I said.“I’m looking forward to your graduation in a few weeks. Everything is all set with Mr. Shaughnessy. I hope you don’t mind that I’m combining your birthday and graduation gifts.”“Not at all. You know neither of those are necessary,”“I know. But I’ll give them. She sipped her Chardonnay and let the heady sensation of the alcohol momentarily block out the pain. She watched the sun set as she had done so many times with James and eventually began to feel the peace she always had when she was with him. Once the chill of the February evening air grew too fierce she headed back to the car. This time the car headed towards the small house she and James had bought with his bonus his first year out of OCS. The tidy bungalow had become her haven. She had never. But north of Lake Superior, snows came and snows stayed. In St. Mary'sthere were works crews that tried to keep the streets clear, but in thereserve there were only a couple of men with snow-blowers who clearedpaths through the reserve, mainly to allow the students to get to thebus stops. Another path was made down to the meeting place near theriver, although after each Sunday the hundreds who came to River'sservices widened the path.The river was still open. It told River that it would remain.