By Bonnie Bardos

 

“Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.”

~ Emily Dickinson, excerpt from “Hope is the Thing with Feathers”

I feel like the worst person on earth. For years, there’s been a dying oak tree on the edge of the back yard, threatening to fall any moment. Decaying trunk eaten away by half, the valiant tree refused to give up, barely existing against the odds through wind, rain and winter, symbolic of myself perhaps. For years, I worry-warted and admired that tree for its tenacity. This morning, I had the upper part cut, the low-budget method. The trunk remains until I can afford to finish the rest.

Nearby is a bluebird house, one of several I’ve always had around for bluebirds who like the edge of the garden. Early spring fledglings had already been launched, so I figured it was tenantless for a bit. So, when the tree crew pulled up, I asked if the bird house was going to get smashed when branches started falling—then hustled quickly to retrieve the house.

It seemed empty, with the last delicate moss-trimmed nest still inside. The metal mounting stake was too firmly embedded in ground, so I transported the birdhouse to a safer spot in the garden, figuring I’d just have to lose the stake but would salvage the house.

Opening it up again, I was horrified to see moving, tiny, featherless babies that had been hidden until I’d done the damage. Oh no! Dear reader, I cannot tell you how stricken I was, as if I had done the most heartless thing a human being can do. Closing it up carefully, thoroughly sickened, I left the back yard as the tree guys and cacophonous saws attacked the tree.

In tears over those babies, I watched my old oak friend lose her branches, the crashing to earth, loss all around. Through it all, the lone metal post barely stood, huge branches literally encasing it. Yes, I continued to wring my hands, blaming guilt-ridden self for what I had done to that bluebird family. The tree was unsalvageable, but the birds, oh the birds, they’d had a chance.

Readers, I want you to know sometimes there is a tiny ray of hope. Amid the crashing of branches, the felling of trees, the most foolhardy of mistakes we mortals make. After the men left, noisy trucks and saws gone, I pulled on a heavy denim jacket and set forth.

Gently carrying that birdhouse close to my heart, I fought, climbed, and ducked through the tangle of limbs to that lone metal outpost peeking up like a submarine periscope from an ocean of wreckage. No kidding: I wired that house back up with prayers that what I had done could be mended, that I could make amends to my little blue friends.

At this moment, the bluebird parents have returned, and are busy going in and out of that house. And, I, humbled, am watching every move, hopeful that life will go on in my backyard and I might be forgiven in some small way.

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

Saluda Tailgate Market opens May 1, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street. Offerings throughout the growing season include vegetables, meat, fruit, honey, baked items, plants and more. Many Saluda businesses will stay open later on Friday, so you can stop by after tailgate marketing!

Even if you missed seeing owls at Saluda Community Land Trust’s annual meeting recently, you can join, volunteer, and/or make a donation. “Walks in the Woods” continue through November on the first and third Sundays of the month. Meet at Saluda Library at 2 p.m. to carpool. Contact Chuck Hearon at 828-749-9886 or 828-817-0364 for information. For more information, contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org.

A tour of Saluda homes and silent auction to help raise funds for the Saluda Depot will be on June 6. If you’d like to help preserve the historic Saluda Depot, you can send donations or pledges (tax deductible!) to Saluda Historic Depot, PO Box 990, Saluda, NC 28773 or email savesaludadepot@gmail.com.

The Saluda Arts Festival is May 16 with lots of live music, art, and fun, so plan on spending a pleasant day here!

Happy May Birthday to Amy Copeland, Corinne Gerwe, Chris Anderson, Mark Jackson, Cary Pace, Lisa Hipp, Trevor Young, Jemme Latell, Paul Marion, Jesse Thomas, Margaret Sease, Elizabeth Baldwin, Chad Baldwin, Lynn Cass and Thelma Jones.

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column! As ever, the goal is to make you feel like you’re enjoying a front porch visit and small town life in a friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, call 749-1153, visit bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.