I knew it was inevitable.
My driver’s license does not expire for a few years.
In about seven months, my license must be REAL ID-compliant.
This is needed in order to fly both nationally and internationally and enter Federal buildings.

I decided that I would gather all the appropriate documents I needed.
I went to the driver’s license center that provided same day REAL ID.
I saw that the parking lot was quite crowded.
I was not ready for the number of people I saw waiting inside.

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I have had a bad cold and cough for the past week.
I always know it’s coming.
This time of year usually brings it on.
This time of year, I am forced to slow down and be still.

It is not a bad thing to slow down.
I actually plan a time of quiet in my day.
I could easily live in England, since around 2:30 every day, I have my tea time.
I have done that for years and it really helps set the tone for the rest of my day.

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I simply mentioned it.
I mentioned that I wanted to replace our living room tables.
I wanted something a bit more rustic.
I wanted a change.

A simple mention becomes a full blown project when my husband is within earshot.
I can make them for you, he said.
He can.
He has made me things in the past.

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I had a large box that I needed to take to UPS.
I was returning something for my husband.
I had so many stops that day.
The UPS stop was right after lunchtime.

This particular UPS store is in a small shopping center.
There is also a restaurant in the shopping center.
The parking lot gets quite busy around lunchtime.
I actually saw two parking spaces right in front of the store.

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The article made me sick as I read it.
I could not imagine what the people must have been going through.
Initial reports said that the problem affected 200 homes.
Most recent reports said that 80 homes were affected.

The problem was caused by something that many do without even thinking.
The problem happened right after Thanksgiving.
It is believed that cooking grease, poured down the drain, caused the problem.
The cooking grease caused a blockage in a major pipe in the Queens section of New York.

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It was just a simple return.
The socks I ordered were not what I expected.
I knew they had to go back.
Returns should be easy.

This return was not.
I went on the website expecting an easy path to return my socks.
There was no such path.
I had to email the Happiness Team to tell them why I was not happy.

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His name is Patches.
He is a scarecrow.
He comes up from the basement every fall.
He always has a prime location near the front door.

I remember when I found Patches.
Someone was having a craft sale in their home.
Patches was one of the handmade items.
He was unnamed at that point; our children named him, Patches.

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It was a fall cleanup day.
The day when all the deck furniture goes into the unfinished part of our basement.
The day when the side porch accessories get placed in a large bin until the spring.
The day when the leaves are blown from the mulch beds.

As much as I enjoy putting all these things outside, I never mind bringing them inside.
It tells me that cold weather is coming.
Cold weather makes me feel more alive.
Cold weather means fireplaces, blankets, and hot chocolate.

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We walked down the streets of Capitol Hill.
It was pouring rain.
Our son had parked about five blocks away from church.
That is typical on any given Sunday.

Capitol Hill Baptist Church has no parking lot.
Everyone who goes to that church, or visits, must find parking on the street.
Passing all the beautiful brownstones is something I love to do.
However, this day, in the rain, the walk was not as pleasant.

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There is a cricket in my house.
I hear him.
I know it is a him, because only male crickets chirp.
Male crickets chirp to get the female cricket’s attention.

I do not know how the cricket got into my house.
I do not know where the cricket actually is when he chirps.
The sound of his chirp is deceiving.
It sounds like it is over here and then it sounds like it is over there.

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