“Breathe an autumn afternoon’s crisp breath, tilt your face up to yellow sunshine, observe ragged blue mountains lying in five folds to the sky, receive the faint daily joy that’s offered.”
~ excerpt from “Nightwoods”
by Charles Frazier

September afternoon’s yellow leaves drifting to pavement whisper of more changes to come:  we enjoy a long sweet reprise from summer heat. Mornings are sweet, the light changes. Life moves a different pace, a soft slowing. My heart is full of love, gratitude, with a sense of humble depths that kneel on the ground.
So many people in this community reached out to share their hearts and help. Perhaps this is a mushy column, but have mercy, I’m feeling a bit mushy these days with all this kindness and outpouring of love from the community I live in. The eye surgery fundraiser at Mill Farm Inn last Saturday was a huge success, thanks to James and Gary, plus many helpers who made it happen. It was grassroots at its best, and got done without red tape or delay. Yes, I’m the poster child for health-care reform, and also an example of how we are not alone in this world – how teamwork and compassion for one another can work miracles, even if the system fails us. This happens every day in our area: good people helping one another.
Once, humans lived in close connection in their respective tribes: each having a place in the scheme of things—the way bees do and work together toward a higher goal. These days, in our modern society, we often don’t have a community connection. Folks are in a hurry; they don’t look each other in the eye. It’s each man for himself.
That, sadly, is not the way most of us want to live. We want connection, caring, to look someone in the eye. To help one another. To be allowed to care, to have others care about us: and that’s one thing about where we live.
We all have a place in this world, and I found mine in the making of art, writing and giving back to others along the way: not  money or power, but creating positive energy in a world that needs it.
The news this week is that I’ve made a date with the eye surgeon for a evaluation today, and will be booking a surgery date: all thanks to many people who made it happen: several angels have offered to pay the difference if I need more. It goes to show that there is love and kindness all around us. We hold each other up. Thank you; I’ll be paying this forward. That’s a promise!
Saluda Tailgate Market continues at West Main Street public parking lot on Fridays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Fresh local offerings: rain or shine.
Hiking anyone? SCLT will have a hike with Betsy Burdett on September 16, leaving from Saluda Library at 2 p.m. For more information on SCLT, you can go to saludasclt.org.
Saluda Garden Club meets on Sept. 17, 10 a.m. at  Saluda Library.
Bridge, the homeless bridge dog, has been in her furever home a year now, thanks to the Saluda Dog Society and people who love animals. Just know her mom loves her; Bridge has the best of life now.
Happy September Birthday to Dale McEntire, Joni Rauschenbach, Peggy Moffat, Sonya Monts, Linda Kaye Hayes, Carol Kenfield, Debbie Fisher, Leslie Jespersen, Linda Mintz, Sheila Billeter, Cary Pace, Ross Arrington, Hop Foster and Chuck Hearon.
Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. It’s my goal to make you feel as if you were enjoying a “Saluda Time” visit on the porch swing! Please feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com; or 749-1153. You may also visit my website at bonniebardos.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.