“My lips whispered over the names of things in the meadows, in the orchard, in the woods, where I sometimes stood for long moments listening to some bird telling me of the strangeness of myself; rocked in the sinewy arms of summer.”

~ Ruth Stone, excerpt from “Before the Blight”

It seems like every second and minute of the day is bombarded with some form of ‘bad’ news, real and fake, these days, enough to where it’s safer (and saner) not to turn on the TV, look at the computer, or read the paper’s headlines.

This past Saturday, something good happened in our small town. It didn’t make news at six, headlines or tweets, but it was memorable and much needed. Despite grumbling dark clouds, a wedding of two special people came about. The weather didn’t cooperate, but there were no complaints or meltdowns, just a happy, joyful bunch of souls coming together to watch good people take a second chance in life with each other, both a part of the tapestry that weaves love and connection among us all.

Changed from an outdoor ceremony last minute amid the rumblings, wedding guests headed to the white-clapboarded Saluda Methodist Church, umbrellas and summer dresses getting drenched. Amid a church filled with Saluda folks and more, a soaked-but-smiling Reverend Rob Parsons did the honors as the bride and groom stood in the sunshine of smiles and love while their community stood by, the bride in white summer lace and daisies in her hair, the groom overcome with happiness that she said “yes.” It doesn’t get better than that — laughter, tears, and love all around.

There weren’t many dry eyes during all this, nothing to do with rain. It just goes to show that love endures, good things in community hold us together in thunderstorms of life. Congratulations to Patty Martin and Don Clapp who found sunshine in the rain.

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 next walk is June 18 to Lazy Girl. Free swimming lessons at Twin Lakes (thanks to a grant from Polk County Community Foundation) 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. Visit www.saludasclt.org to learn more, donate, or volunteer.

Saluda Tail Gate Market is open 4:30-6:30 p.m. every Friday May through October. Load up on local produce, flowers, homemade soup, breads, and all manner of goodies. Last week I spotted blue, white and lavender Japanese iris, plump blueberries, fresh strawberries, local pork and beef, jams and jellies, fragrant bread, garden herbs and flowers, tempting quarters of pound cake, summer squash, mushrooms, and more. Your columnist headed for The Turtle with over-flowing bags of deliciousness, an orange coneflower peeking out. Those strawberries, no sign of ‘em left!

Saluda School’s out for summer vacation starting today at 11:30.

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 in yards all around town—maybe even mine if I can manage to get stuff together! Rain or shine.

The next Saluda Train Tales at the Depot on June 16 at 7 p.m. features Lucas R. Safrit, interpreter/rail historian with N.C. Transportation Museum. Saluda Historic Depot is located at 32 W. Main Street.

Ward’s Grill has a free veterans’ breakfast on the third Thursday of each month.

Saluda Center Potluck and Bingo night is June 26 at 6 p.m.

Saluda’s 54th annual Coon Dog Day is July 8.

Thank you to all the volunteers and attendees for the Historic Saluda Committee’s Shand Hill Tour of Homes, a fundraiser for preservation projects in Saluda. A little bird told me there must have been over 500 visitors!

A reminder note: remember when your mom told you NOT to pour grease down the drain? The City of Saluda wants you to remember mom’s rules.

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.

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