The reason for my newfound “stud-lyness” was given to me by JoAnne, a retired schoolteacher who worked at the convenience store where I got my cof...ee each morning.JoAnne was big rawboned, chain-smoking lady who did not give a damn about anyone’s opinion. JoAnne could crack wise with any of the customers from construction workers to Bank Presidents, and had a loyal following at the store. She mainly worked to keep busy after her longtime partner had passed away.“Eric my boy. You are what is. Upstairs in the room Linda looked at the rumpled single bed and saw a large wet spot in the middle.Yuck, so that’s what the clean sheet is for, whispered Mouse.After you strip the sheet off better flip the mattress too, added Ret.Mouse dropped her disguise.Linda stripped off the filthy, stained sheet and flipped the mattress over. The bed didn’t have a box springs, it was all metal frame with boards to lay the thin mattress on. She put the new flat sheet on the flip side of the mattress and. Erin’s divorce was not going as well as mine had. Scott was fighting everything, hiding assets, refusing to pay spousal support, you name it, and he was fighting it. Finally, just before Christmas, Lynne brought Sean back after a weekend visitation, and handed me a check and an envelope. ‘What’s this?’ ‘That is half the bonus I got for that damned contract that cost us our marriage. I felt that I owed you this, at the very least. In the envelope is a copy of what Scott has made as bonuses this. The tired dignitywith which she carried herself spoke volumes about herability and her strength. This was not young administrative assistant, butsomeone who made things happen. There was no weddingband. (Years before a woman friend asked me what Ifirst noticed about a woman I just met. She may havebeen expecting “breasts” or “body” but I replied, “Thefirst thing I notice is her eyes and her smile. Then myeyes immediately drop down… to her left hand to seeif.