ìA table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?î ~ Albert Einstein

Thanksgiving week is here; in honor of all those things we can be grateful for (and not), I dug out one of my old Thanksgiving columns from past years. It’s good to be reminded of what matters, and also what doesn’t.

By the time you read this column, many of you will be recovering from a big Thanksgiving meal with friends or family. Maybe you’re hitting stores on Black Friday for all the over-trumpeted sales. Not me—you won’t catch me near a store on that day. Bargains, forget it. There is nothing I want that badly, nor want to give someone, that is worth it. Who in their right mind wants to get up at 3 a.m. to line up, freezing, at some big box store glaring with fluorescent lights to load a cart to the gills and run over other shoppers? Sometimes it’s a fight to the death, according to various news reports over the years as the tradition grows (the tradition of stampedes and Black Friday sales, take your pick). I never have understood this kind of madness. To make it even worse, you have to pay for all that stuff in the long run!

Maybe it’s my innate grumpy and staid Taurus-the-bull nature, but I don’t enjoy insane crowds, fighting over plastic things, or trying to beat everybody to the prize. Heck, let someone else have it. Seems to me the real gift is sitting around the table, sharing food, love, maybe a football game or two…just being aware of what matters most. That is indeed “some small place of enchantment to turn to,” as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings once wrote.

Local goods, craft, holiday decor and fall produce can be found at a special holiday Saluda Tailgate Market on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 1-3 p.m., at West Main St. parking lot. Many delightful Saluda shops and restaurants will be open longer hours as well. It’s Small Business Saturday. Please shop locally! You can have a lovely meal, enjoy live music, art, craft, fresh produce and so much more right here in our small jewel of a mountain town.

The annual Polk County Toy Run is November 29 at Saluda Fire Department, 64 Greenville Street, with registration from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The motorcycle parade ride starts at 2 p.m.

Keep in mind that Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) meets twice a month and also would love to have you volunteer! The December SCLT meeting will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 10at SCLT’s office in the fellowship building of the Presbyterian Church. The guest speaker will talk about the Battle of Round Mountain. Adopt-a-highway cleanup is scheduled for Dec. 8 at 10 a.m., meet at library parking lot. Supplies will be provided, just bring a friend.

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Saluda Hometown Christmas on Dec. 12, from 6 -8 p.m. An ecumenical service will be held at Saluda Presbyterian Church at 8:15 p.m. Thank you to our Saluda Business Association for sponsoring this long-time favorite event!

Happy Birthday to Rich and Rita Igoe, Karen Johnson, Marsha Jenkins, Nancy Barnett, Dawn Pearson, Charles Pearson, Dusty Jespersen, Gwen Garren, Stoney Lamar, Jim Boyle, Tom Ellwood, Frank Beeson, Wendy McEntire, Aaron Burdett, Richard Baker, Donna Potruski, and Jane Thompson.

Thank you, dear readers for reading this column; I am thankful for you. Over the years, you have generously given feedback, appreciation, phone calls, notes, or hugs. Not once has my mailbox been egged—but I have found homemade bread, turnip greens and homemade soup out on the front porch a time or two! Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com or 749-1153. I love hearing from you. You may also visit my website at bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.