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The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes. ~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

 

Back before Christmas, Aunt Sally up in Maine mailed me a Christmas card with a check tucked in. Of course, I emailed her right away that it had been received and that I’d use it for a new book, journal, or special something. 

 

Rolling through the bank drive-through, I cashed Aunt Sally’s check then mailed a few holiday cards in the post office’s drop box around back. Upon getting home, it slowly dawned that the cash was not in my purse, not in the car, not in my pocket, not on the ground. (Did I ever beat myself up over this one). 

 

I called the bank to make sure I hadn’t driven off and left it (really). Then I called the post office. The post mistress answered (I could tell it was her thanks to the rich-butterscotch-voice) and patiently listened to Village Idiot explain about the bank and post office– and the possibility that I might have mailed a few Christmas dollars along with holiday cards. 

 

She promised to check when she unloaded mail out of the drop box and said if the money was found, she would put it in my post office box. I really figured I’d never know what I’d done with it—deciding if I had dropped it, someone must have needed it more. 

 

The next day, I unlocked my post office box. There, in a white envelope, still paper-clipped together was the MIA cash that I had blithely mailed with cards, never noticing. 

 

Folks, my heart lifted. The day felt better—the sun was brighter. It wasn’t a huge amount of cash to lose—but it was everything to me that a Good Soul found it and made sure to get it back to me; otherwise I’d never have known if someone had pocketed it. I was grateful, and headed out feeling a sense that there ARE good people in this world. Yes there are!  

 

Saluda Winter Market is every other Saturday through March at Saluda Center from 9-12, the next one is January 8. 

Saluda area veterans are invited to breakfast at Saluda Fire Department, 9 a.m. on January 12. Saluda Living in Place (SLIP) volunteers Frank McNutt and Owen Miller will host. 

Saluda Historic Depot is closed January and February. 

Saluda Visitor Center winter hours are 12-3 weekdays and 11-4 p.m. on weekends.

Historic Saluda Committee meets January 14, 2 p.m. at  Saluda  Library in the upstairs meeting room. The public is invited to attend; current COVID-19 restrictions will be followed. www.historicsaluda.org

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) would benefit from your donations for this year ahead, or your time as a volunteer for their many community projects. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org

Saluda Pop-Up Pantry is Tuesday from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Saluda Presbyterian Church, 54 Carolina Avenue (behind Saluda Library).Masks/safety precautions taken. Paper products, children’s jackets, gloves, men’s hats, grooming products such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc., socks, and coats are needed to help restock. To volunteer, call Saluda Church of the Transfiguration, 828-749-9740. You can mail tax-deductible donations to Saluda Pop-Up Pantry, P.O. Box 428, Saluda, NC 28773 or donate online at www.saludapantrycom   

Saluda Sympathy goes to the family of Jerry Pace. 

Happy January Birthday to Brandy Bradley, Carolyn Ashburn, Scott Kinard, Donna Bond, Greer Eargle, Wyatt Alan Pace, Irma Anderson, Paul Aaybe, Phyllis Arrington, Kenneth Justus, Cheryl Harbin, Avery Lena Mintz, Connie Scicluna, Ann Dudley, Charles Conner, Kristin Mode, Susan Parke, Rodney Gibson, Kristen Mode, and Frank McNutt. 

 

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