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“I asked the stand of maples behind the house,

How should I live my life?

They said, shhh shhh shhh…

How should I live, I asked, and the leaves seemed to ripple and gleam.

A bird called from a branch in its own tongue,

And from a branch, across the yard, another bird answered.

A squirrel scrambled up a trunk

then along the length of a branch.

Stand still, I thought,

See how long you can bear that.

Try to stand still, if only for a few moments,

drinking light breathing.”

~ Marie Howe, “The Maples” 

 

The Saluda Arts Festival ended last weekend, but I still feel sunshine, smiles, and breezes lifting. It started with rain, of all things—rain and wind are not friends to artists or volunteers trying to set up. Luckily, the wet blanket packed up and left, the morning cleared up, and other than a few gusts of wind, things went smoothly. 

Festive balloon swags decorated McCreery Park’s pavilion, beckoning kids to come up for face-painting and fun. Bright flags twirled and waved around bridge rails over railroad tracks. Colorful re-purposed bicycles with flowers and overflowing flower baskets decorated Main Street, welcoming all. It was Saluda. 

I strolled around to admire booths before heading for volunteer duty at the visitor’s information booth, sort of missing being IN the festival, but also glad not to do all that hauling and hard work. And it is hard work, as any artist can tell you. Instead, I handed out icy water bottles to thirsty folks, recommended food options, gave directions, smiled, pointed, petted dogs, saw old friends and made a few new ones, gave some history lessons about our town, and acted like I knew what I was doing. (That’s the secret: just act like you know what you’re doing, even if you don’t!) 

The day was sweet, with live music filtering through the mountain breezes, folks enjoying ice cream cones, dogs in strollers and on leashes. Little kids, big kids. Old, young, and art. There’s a happiness to seeing others having a good time, seeing shopkeepers do well, and appreciating those who put this festival together year after year. A good many of them are women, the women of Saluda (no offense, guys, we know you’re helping!). But the powerhouses who run the show ARE female. I saw one out winding the flag strands around bridge rails on a dreary Sunday, one who ran dog shows for 40+ years put together the volunteer slate and schedules (like herding cats!), and all who got ‘er done. Because they know what to do, how to pull us together to make it happen. 

Bless ‘em! A lesson in what matters and the power of community in a small town. 

 

• Saluda’s Top of the Grade Concert series returns this summer on the Ella Grace Mintz Stage at McCreery Park on the second Friday evening of the month: June 13, July 11, August 8, and September 12 at 7 p.m. These free concerts are made possible through a grant from the Saluda Community Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation.
• Saluda Community Land Trust’s next Walks in the Woods is to Old Home Place #1, where walkers will get a glimpse of 19th-century life at the Dart-McCutcheon land featuring an old homestead, fields, streams, and water cascades. Meet at the Saluda Library parking lot at 2 p.m. For information, contact SCLT  at (828) 749-1560; or email info@saludaclt.org
• Saluda tailgate market runs each Friday from 4-6 p.m. 

 

Happy May Birthday to Amy Copeland, Corinne Gerwe, Chris Anderson, Mark Jackson, Cary Pace, Lisa Hipp, Trevor Young, Paul Marion, Jesse Thomas, Margaret Sease, Elizabeth Baldwin, Chad Baldwin, Lynn Cass, Thelma Jones, Betsy Burdett, Melia Bradley, Robin Kirby, Kevin Matthews, Susan Warrick, Robin Bradley, Stella Barnett, John Matson, and Dave LaFave.  

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