“The store is a bandstand. All our voices

sound from it, making the same motley

American music Ives heard;

this piece starting quietly,

with the repeated clink of a flagpole

pulley in the doorway of a country store.”

~ Jane Kenyon, excerpt from “At the Store”

There is a man in my bathroom. He’s taking apart the toilet as I write this because water appeared on the floor around that toilet, which is never a good thing. Drip, drip, drip. The sound of plumbing repair bills caused anxiety in my heart, fear in my billfold. Tucking a rag around the water supply line, it was time to hunt for help.

First call, no answer. Second call, voicemail. Within a few minutes, the phone rang, and soon enough a rumbling diesel truck ambled up. Help came to the back door in the form of Saluda native Tater Anderson, all-around fix-it guy who works with his dad. (Truthfully, I was shocked anyone showed up, let alone called me back!)

More and more, it seems that people don’t call you back, don’t show, or promise they’ll look into what needs to be done and disappear to that mysterious place plastic container lids and missing socks vanish to. I’m not sure if folks are just too busy with other jobs or what. But for small jobs, it’s almost impossible to get things done.

Tater likes to chat and doesn’t mind my nosiness while he tackles the job. He’s a Saluda native, born in St. Luke’s Hospital, raised up out Warrior Mountain Road. Of course, being it’s a small town, I know his in-laws and of him, of people who he’s worked for. I just hadn’t actually had a face-to-face meeting with him before.

Well, you can’t help but like a smiling baseball cap-wearing fellow named Tater. Even on-duty guard dog, River, calms down after a while, flops out on the floor as Tater bails water and peers in the depths of the porcelain tank.

By the time our new friend Tater’s finishing up, your nosy column writer has ferreted out that he’s 31, just celebrated a sixth anniversary, loves being a dad to his 8-month-old daughter, goes to church on Sunday, and appreciates critters, a baloney sandwich, coon-hunting, nature, family.

He’s a good guy, I can tell. Honest, kind, friendly as can be, just salt of the earth. The kind of fellow that shows up when you need help, follows through, and gets ‘er done. The best of Saluda in a young man’s heart.

Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street offering local honey, fresh produce, baked goodies, plants, and much more!

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday. Dinner is served from 5:30 -7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All are welcome; donations accepted.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) benefits from your donations or time as a volunteer for their many community projects. “Walks in the Woods” are on the first and third Sundays each month. Free swimming lessons will be at Twin Lakes this summer. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org.

Saluda Train Tales are held at Saluda Historic Depot (HistoricSaluda.org) on the third Friday each month April through October. The Depot is open Thursday through Sunday noon-4 p.m.

On June 26 from 1:30-7 p.m., Steamy Mug is hosting a block party to raise money for Saluda’s McCreery Park master park plan fund and to help make the park handicap accessible along with improving the park for families and kids. There will be vendors, live music, barbecue, drinks, fun for the kids, bachelor auction and silent auction. Tickets available now at Steamy Mug on Church Street—I stopped in and picked myself up a ticket last week!

The Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Saluda Library.

Saluda Center potluck and bingo is June 27 at 6 p.m.

Coon Dog Day is July 9.

Happy June birthday to Nancy Barnett, Verne Dawson, Peggy Ellwood, Anna Jackson, Charlie Jackson, Amy Violet Ford, Terry Arrington, Julie Arrington, Susie Welsh Hearn, Jeremy Edwards, John Savage, Eleanor Morgan, Mary Lu Price, and Sigi Hendrickson. Please add your birthday to the list!

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column! Each and every one of you is special to my heart – I want you to feel like we’re visiting on the leafy, flower-filled front porch enjoying a cool glass of tea together in a small town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com or 749-1153, visit my website at bonniebardosart.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.