“I want to get up early one more morning,

before sunrise. Before the birds, even.

I want to throw cold water on my face

and be at my work table

when the sky lightens and smoke

begins to rise from the chimneys

of the other houses.”

~ Raymond Carver,

excerpt from “At Least”

Early this first week of the new year, bundled in fleece robe, I stood at the back porch door, listening to the long notes of tender quietness just before traffic picks up and school buses drag by.

Night has just recently caught a taxi ride out of town, folding her dark skirts into the back seat.

Then, a red bird’s wings brushing pine branches nearby — the cardinal sits a moment, a prayer upon the ripening peach slice sky in the east.

A hint of wood smoke scent drifts lazily, a wren’s clear-as-a-bell song upon the damp morning. The day lightens.

• There’s still time to honor a loved one with an engraved brick paver for Pace Park. Proceeds go toward building public restrooms at this community park, to be located downtown near M.A. Pace Store; for additional information, contact Catherine Ross at 828-749-3534 or carnc@charter.net

• Saluda Community Land Trust would benefit from your donations for this new year or your time as a volunteer for their many community projects. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit saludasclt.org.

• Don’t forget if you’re over 60 and need meals delivered or to borrow medical equipment, the Saluda Center’s Meals on Wheels Program can help you out. They also can use volunteers! Contact Donna at 828-749-9245. 

• Saluda Welcome Table will resume in February.

• Saluda Women’s Club meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Saluda Presbyterian Church.

• Saluda Singles will have a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. Thursday at Saluda Center. 

• The Saluda Center Annual Gala, 64 Greenville St., is from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. Tickets available; there will be a silent auction/raffle.

• Ward’s Grill will have free breakfast for all military veterans from 7-11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17.

• Saluda Living in Place will have Jill Hart speak about  “Downsizing with Heart” at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at Saluda Fire Station on Greenville Street. At 2 p.m., certified Ageless Grace instructor Donna Humphries will have an Ageless Grace program. SLIP also offers a veterans’ breakfast at 9 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the fire station.

• Sing! With The Saluda Community Singers from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Saluda Presbyterian Church on Carolina Street.

• Congratulations to Saluda Fire and Rescue’s EMT of the Year Kelly Pace. Drew Foster is Officer of the Year, Dylan Ward is Firefighter of the Year, and Chief’s Award has been given to Dean Dellinger.

• Saluda Sympathy goes to the family of Carey Pickard, who recently passed away in Macon, Georgia.

• Saluda Sympathy goes to Dottie Eargle for the loss of her beloved dog, Huddie. Huddie will be greatly missed. He walked Dottie all over Saluda — the pair were a familiar sight, walking along Main Street, up Greenville Street, around here and there. Dogs truly are best friends.

• Happy January Birthday to Nora Parks Anderson, Brandy Bradley, Alex Bardos, Carolyn Ashburn, Scott Kinard, Donna Bond, Greer Eargle, Wyatt Alan Pace, Irma Anderson, Paul Aaybe, Phyllis Arrington, Kenneth Justus, Cheryl Harbin, Avery Lena Mintz and Connie Scicluna. Please add your name to the list; no ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!

Thank you for reading this column; as ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying small town life in a friendly mountain town called Saluda. Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153 or visit
bonniebardosart.com.