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“The conditions were extreme—nothing but rock and wind and meager soil. So much left to happenstance and incredible endurance. Yet life thrived, unfurled its leaves toward the sun, and poured hope into its tender, fragile flowers.” ~ Eowyn Ivey, excerpt from “Black Woods Blue Sky”

 

Late March winds roar with lion’s fury, whipping wildfires and pollen; rain has been stingy so far. I say prayers for those in harm’s way, the firefighters who have shown up from many states to help, and for our own who put their lives on the line dealing with fire and I-26 mishaps on a way-too-frequent basis. 

I seem to be praying a lot these days: little prayers tossed out amid cherry blossoms to morning light, the trees leafing out, the crow and hawk sailing overhead, the wildflowers and tender fern uncurling. 

Back from the fly fishing retreat down on Seabrook Island, I think about how fishing is a metaphor for life and how it’s not necessarily about landing a fish but the simple peace of things. Where water sparkles over rock, time slows, and there’s a feeling of being alive, a gratitude toward just being there to see and feel those moments. I spent little time on my phone and a lot of time discovering I needed to brush up on my fishing skills. Humbling, to say the least! 

Fly casting is not as easy as it looks, methinks. Nor is learning to tie a fishing fly knot. It was a struggle trying to SEE how to wrap the thread around a tiny inch of fluff onto a tiny fishing hook held by a small vise. Then do it again. Between my clumsy fingers and reading glasses in the way (can’t see with ‘em, can’t see without ‘em), it was a slow-w-w process. Luckily, nobody got hooked, including the elusive trout laughing somewhere in a cold mountain stream. 

It felt good, though, to practice casting over and over. To get to know other women who’d all been through many different kinds of cancer, to sing and dance. To learn to go with the flow—we studied that, too. The only complaint was that we never did see Robert Redford out fly fishing. You can’t have everything, right? 

• Saluda Community Land Trust’s next Walks in the Woods is an easy walk on April 5 to Lazy Girl trail, which crosses a stream and connects Esseola Drive through the woods to Laurel Drive in Saluda. No four-legged friends are allowed for this walk. Meet at the Saluda Library parking lot at 2 p.m. For information, contact the SCLT office at (828) 749-1560 or email info@saludaclt.org. Mark your calendars for SCLT’s 18th annual meeting at Saluda Center on May 7th, 5:30 p.m. 
• Saluda Pantry is back in its permanent home at Saluda Presbyterian Church behind the library. Its hours are Tuesday and Thursday 10-4 and Saturday 10-2. 
• Saluda Spring Pop-Up Market is March 29, 10-2 at McCreery Park.
• Potluck & Bingo night at Saluda Center is March 31, 6 p.m. 
• Saluda Historic Depot reopens on April 4, Thursday-Saturday from 12-4, and Sunday from 1-4, April-December. Private tours can be arranged on days the Depot is closed; to arrange a tour, contact Mike Reeves at 828-674-9598 or email Nita High at nitahigh@rsnet.org.

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, Savannah Curtis, Paul Rhodes, and Emily Lamar. Add your birthday to the list; it’s always a promise no ages are mentioned unless you’re under two or over 100! Just send a text or email, or stop me at the post office! 

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