“Suck it up. This idea was partly yours,” I remind her, though I'm not mad about it.
“I'm so excited for you. Have you packed?”
“I am right now,Mom.”
“Did you stock the fridge and pantry for me?”
“Of course.”
“Perfect! Dasher and I are gonna have a blast,” she says with a smile in her voice. Since I'll be gone for seven days, I asked Lucy to house-sit and watch Dasher.
“No being nosy and snooping through my room.” I know my sister too damn well.
“Yeah, yeah. Oh, before I forget. Mom emailed a work thing you're supposed to read and sign.”
“Okay, I'll check once I'm done putting my shit in this bag.”
“Alrighty. See ya tomorrow, little brother!”
She hangs up before I can remind her we're only two minutes apart. Little brat.
I grab my laptop, then walk downstairs with Dasher following. Since I'm not taking it with me, I clear out my mail.
I find the one Lucy's talking about and read it over. Then I delete all the junk that's been collecting for the past month.
Just as I'm about to exit out of the window, a new email pops up, and the sender's name grabs my attention.
Fallon Joy.
The subject is:Finding the Christmas Spirit in Vermont's North Pole
The smile on my face widens at her choice of title.
I click it open.
Levi White,
This is scheduled to be published next week. I hope it's to your liking.
-Fallon Joy
I frown at her formal message.
That's it, huh?
I download the attachment and get comfortable on the couch. This piece will either make or break our special town.
I'm impressed by how long and in-depth it is. Her opening paragraph has me laughing when she mentions hating the cold, and her descriptions of the blizzard and living without amenities make me smile at those memories. Given the storm's severity, she highlighted how fast the crews cleared the roads and restored power. She goes on to discuss her time snowed in, and then she introduces me and my family's tree farm.
Levi White and his family's Christmas tree farm is a town staple, and it's no surprise why. Whether you want to chop down your own tree or choose one that’s ready to go, the experience will be filled with family-friendly fun. While you wait for your tree with a homemade hot cocoa in hand, you can enjoy numerous other activities, such as horse-drawn sleigh rides, a gift shop with a wrapping station, and the best gingersnap cookies I've ever had. Whether you enjoy visiting old friends or meeting new ones, there's plenty of room for everyone. With festive music playing around the farm, you'll never be without the Christmas spirit. Take it from someone who hasn't celebrated the holidays in over a decade, White's Christmas Tree Farm is a holiday tradition you won't want to miss!
Every word I read has me smiling wider.
She really wrote each word with heart and non-biases.
I continue reading with pride at how highly she speaks of our town, the locals, and the community in general. Then she spotlights the small businesses that work hard to offer quality items. The section on the ski resort will be wonderful for their business.
The feature on Bennett's Orchard Farms is amazing. Finn and his family will be pleased, and I hope it brings in even more tourists during the fall season. She speaks nothing but praise and talks about the history along with last year's centennial celebration. Although she wasn't here for it, they had tons of photos to show her.