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“Do we really need much more than this? To honor the dawn. To visit a garden. To talk to a friend. To contemplate a cloud. To cherish a meal. To bow our heads before the mystery of the day. Are these not enough?” ~ Kent Nerburn, excerpt from “Small Graces” 

 

Early this morning, as I twisted-turned-pinched-pushed the Listerine mouthwash bottle cap, muttering groans and curses intermittently, I asked the powers that be WHY OH WHY aren’t there simple easy-open caps available for those of us who don’t need child-proof stuff anymore? If you request them for your prescriptions, you can get them—but how about for other things?!

 

These caps are adult-proof as well as child-proof—you have to have monkey fingers to do all the shenanigans required. Heaven help you if you have arthritis, a weak grip or inept butter fingers.  

 

Even the caps on dairy products, like cartons of half and half, have become smaller and harder to open, including those flimsy white plastic pull-tabs underneath…along with foil covers on yogurt. Some don’t even have a tiny tab to pull, so you’re stuck rooting around for a knife, then potentially stabbing yourself in the process of trying to pry the foil off. Maybe I’m just grumpy from too much cold and winter, do you think? Spring has sprung, and things are warming up besides under my collar. 

 

But you know, Dear Reader, that it’s gonna happen: the metal pull-tab WILL break off. The flimsy plastic half and half tab WILL spray white droplets everywhere. So, instead of dealing with any of that right now, I’m going outside to contemplate clouds and visit the garden. Small graces indeed. 

 

• Saluda Winter Market is at Saluda Center, 64 Greenville Street, on 2nd and 4th Saturdays from 9 a.m-1 p.m. through April. You’ll find produce, canned goods, fresh-baked goods, locally-sourced meat, soup, eggs, honey, freeze-dried goodies, doggie treats, crafts and more.  
• Potluck/Bingo night at Saluda Center is March 27, 6 p.m. The entree is provided; bring a side dish or dessert to share. 
• Saluda Living in Place (SLIP) will feature Dr. Evans Kemp, Director of Cardiovascular Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital, speaking about heart health on March 30, 11 a.m. at Saluda Fire Department. A free box lunch and blood pressure check are included! Dr. Kemp will give tips, advice, and general heart knowledge. For more information, contact SLIP at (828) 749-0049.
• Mountain Page Theater will have “A Night at the Old Time Radio Show” on March 31 and April 1, at 7 p.m. For information, visit www.mountainpage.theater.
• Love books? Saluda Book Club meets at Saluda Center, 64 Greenville Street, on the first Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. For the April 6 meeting, Barbara Kingsolver’s “Demon Copperhead” will be discussed and compared to Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield.” Interested readers welcome! 
• The Saluda Historic Depot and Museum reopens on April 1. To arrange for a tour for groups and organizations, contact Mike Reeves at 828-674-9598 or email Nita High at nitahigh@rsnet.org . 
• Saluda Get-Well goes to Greaton Sellers and Cindy Keeter. 
• Happy March Birthday to Genell Jespersen, Valerie Mintz, Sheldon Mintz, Curtis Pace, Anita Moore, Dorrie McKinley, Catherine Ross, Monica Pace, Ken Justus, Elizabeth Justus, Arlene Klippel, Rachel Bradley, Chris Bradley, Dawn Ward, Dori Ray, Martin Anderson, Lucy Holman, Craig Bass, Laura Bass, Patty Martin, Tangie Morgan, Melanie Keener, Tuula Veil, Erica Shanks and Paul Rhodes. Add your birthday—no ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!   

 

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