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“We have a tendency to think in terms of doing and not in terms of being. We think that when we are not doing anything, we are wasting our time. But that is not true. Our time is first of all for us to be. To be what? To be alive, to be peaceful, to be joyful, to be loving. And that is what the world needs most.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh 

 

Last week, spring fever took over and I packed up for Charleston, dreaming of azaleas, historic houses, sparkling ocean and fresh seafood. I watered the inside plants, unplugged a few things, kicked the tires and took off, wishing there was a transport machine to beam me there rather than face hours of the Hot Wheels track of interstate driving. 

 

Good ole Murphy’s Law ALWAYS kicks in just when we think we’re smooth sailing. Enjoying my “free” trial of Sirius set on Willie’s Roadhouse, it got warmer as the traffic snarled in Columbia. Asphalt grew hotter. Time for AC, I thought. Well, naturally, it wasn’t working!

 

I always say “it could have been worse” about anything that happens, and it really could have been. At least the car was still rolling, no flat tires, and I arrived in the Lowcountry in one piece, albeit sweaty and frazzled. There are times when you’re truly grateful it wasn’t a 100-degree humid day. Could have been worse. 

 

The next night, my cell phone started dinging with texts/messages/calls from Duke Energy that my power was out, and from worried friends in Saluda – calls I missed since I’d put the phone on do-not-disturb and forgotten about it. Oops. Why is everyone wondering if I’m OK? What’s going on up there?

 

It turned out there was a fire, and no one quite knew yet what was burning—and were concerned it was where I live. To make a long story short, I went to bed that night wondering if I’d have a place to come back to. The main comfort was this: that it would do me no good to worry, how much it meant that others were concerned about my safety, that driving back in a panic would do no good either, and that things are just things—and if I became homeless, some good souls would take me in. These lessons I learned a long time ago. 

 

So, I let anxiety disappear and let peace in. Morning updates said our Saluda Fire Department saved the day, Duke and Spectrum were on the job, and no buildings burned. It could have been worse, indeed. In time, the AC will be fixed (we hope), and spring keeps on coming. 

 

• Saluda Winter Market is at Saluda Center, 64 Greenville Street, on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through April.  

 

• SCLT news: “Walks in the Woods” has returned this March! The first one will be on March 19 to the Old Home Place to get a glimpse of 19th-century life at the Dart-McCutcheon property off Holbert Cove Road. Meet at Saluda Library’s parking lot at 2 p.m. to carpool. Our Saluda Community Land Trust stays busy year-round with land conservation, trails, projects and more: visit saludaclt.org or call 828-749-1560 for information. 
• Saluda Community Table is March 22 at Saluda Fire Department, 6 p.m. Bring your own utensils. 
• Happy March Birthday to Genell Jespersen, Valerie Mintz, Sheldon Mintz, Curtis Pace, Anita Odgen Moore, Charles Weinhagen, Dorrie McKinley, Catherine Ross, Monica Pace, Ken Justus, Elizabeth Justus, Arlene Klippel, Rachel Bradley, Chris Bradley, Dawn Ward, Dori Ray, Martin Anderson, Lucy Holman, Craig Bass, Laura Bass, Patty Martin, Tangie Morgan, Melanie Keener, Tuula Veil, Erica Shanks and Paul Rhodes.  

 

Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 817-6765, P.O. Box 331, Saluda, NC 28773, Facebook, or visit bonniebardos.com