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Saluda News & Notations

By Bonnie J. Bardos

“…love is the most important thing in the world. It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only more important to love the world, not to despise it, not for us to hate each other, but to be able to regard the world and ourselves and all beings with love, admiration and respect.” Siddhartha, Herman Hesse

In the time of corona, a solace has been reading outdoors in a favorite old chair. Friends have given/loaned books, our library kept me stocked up even when closed, and now they’re re-open, my drug of choice is readily available–shelves are full.

One book recently finished was Bill Bryson’s “The Body (A Guide For Occupants)”. In a chapter “The Outside: Skin and Hair”, Bryson talks with Nina Jablonski in her office at the anthropology building on Penn State’s campus.

She says “It is extraordinary how such a small facet of our composition is given so much importance…people act as if skin color is a determinant of character when all it is is a reaction to sunlight. Biologically, there is actually no such thing as race-nothing in terms of skin color, facial features, hair type, bone structure, or anything else that is a defining quality among peoples. And yet look how many people have been enslaved or hated or lynched or deprived of fundamental rights through history because of the color of their skin.”

In fourth grade, my desk was right smack in front of our resident dragon, Mrs. Anne Efird who tolerated no nonsense and ran a tight ship in her classroom. Beside me sat my friend Harriet. I was white, she was black. All I could see was Harriet wore wonderful leather boots, and I was not allowed to have boots. And I yearned for wonderful leather boots—all the girls except ME had them.

To this day, Dear Reader, my love for Harriet stays tucked warm in memory and heart: remembering how she pulled those boots off and let me wear them during recess, the dodge ball games on red dusty clay.

Children, I remind you, are born innocent, not judging color, class, or culture—we teach them hate, cruelty, and all bad things we humans come up with. In that, our children are the future and it continues to give hope to see them speaking up, standing up, making a difference early on. We adults have much to learn.

Coon Dog Day 2020 has been canceled.

Keep up with Saluda Community Land Trust’s latest projects: visit saludaclt.org or call 828-749-1560 to learn more; swimming lessons for this summer are canceled. SCLT’s trails can benefit from regular clearing and pick-up; if you’d like to help, contact Trail Boss Chuck Hearon at 828-817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net.

The Community Pop-up Pantry is open for drive-through each Tuesday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church parking lot. Send donations to Church of the Transfiguration, designated for Pop-Up Pantry, 72 Charles Street, Saluda NC 28773.

Saluda Historic Depot & Museum is open Thursday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Face coverings, safe distancing and limits of people to 10 at a time will take place. Saluda Train Tales feature Garland Goodwin, “Remembers When” on June 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Autumn Care still needs donations of N-95 masks, cloth masks and coveralls; drop off items outside the Administrative Office entrance.

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, Sigi Hendrickson, Edna McKee, Lucinda Pittman, D.J. Gaskin, Susan Matthews, Lisa Duck, Kasey Watkins, Jane Mann and Chambli Dawn Stuber. Add your birthday to the list!

Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or visit bonniebardosart.com