And did you get what you wanted from this life, even so?

I did. And what did you want?

To call myself beloved, to feel myself beloved on the earth.

~ Raymond Carver, “Late Fragment”

Earlier today the phone rang while I was in the kitchen “supervising” a cook top installation, which means I was hovering close by as someone else hooked up dangerous looking wires underneath the counter top, watching to make sure there were no zapping sounds. Every now and then, I’d run down around the back of the house to the basement to flip the breaker.

You see, I’d found a gently used cook-top at a thrift shop, which is code-blue for “you-should-think-about-this-before-you-leap.” After unpacking my find, I discovered a burner was missing, that the old Jenn-Air cook-top was complicated to get out, and on and on. What was I thinking? A $50 find snowballed into double that by the time I’d ordered a burner, found someone to remove and install the ‘find,’ and I’m still wondering if this is the end just yet to my grandiose scheme.

The phone still ringing, I leaped from kitchen to grab it: “Hello? Hello?” Nothing.

Of course, it must have been auto-calls from the do-not-call list bunch; telemarketers don’t pay The List one bit of attention anymore. Later, there goes the phone again, and I’m back grabbing it, just in case I won the lottery or Mr. Right got the wrong number.

“Hello?” Silence … then sounds of boiler-room chatter from a land far, far away.

“Hel-lo, Madam!” an East Indian voice sings brightly. All I can say is Madam yowled “NO. Do-NOT-call!” Click. Not buying, not interested. Think they’ll ever give up? I might have a cook-top to sell ‘em.

Saluda Welcome Table is at Saluda Methodist Church Tuesday from 5:30-6:45 p.m.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) has “Walks in the Woods” on the first and third Sundays each month. The walks are on June 4 to Little Bradley, and on June 18 to Lazy Girl. Free swimming lessons at Twin Lakes start with Brian Lilburn from Aqua Child from June 19 – July 7. Lessons are for children ages 10 months to 13 years. For information on how to register your child, email dlpwoodturner@gmail.com  with your name, cell phone number, and email address.

Saluda Tail Gate Market is open 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Friday May – October. Load up on local produce, flowers, homemade soup, breads, and all manner of goodies. Friendly folks all around; stop by and visit.

Historic Saluda Committee will have a tour of homes on Shand Hill, plus other historical buildings, on June 3. Visit historicsaluda.org for more information.

Top of the Grade Concerts at McCreery Park begin June 9 from 7-9 p.m.

There’s a citywide yard sale event June 10 at Saluda School’s tennis courts, McCreery Park, Pavilion and around town. To reserve a free space, request a sign, or information, call 828-749-3789.

Coon Dog Day is July 8.

Saluda get-well goes to Ruth Anderson.

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, and Sigi Hendrickson. Please add your birthday to the list—no ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or bonniebardosart.com.