By Bonnie J. Bardos 

 

 

“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” ~  Maya Angelou
Thanksgiving week is here. In honor of all those things we can be grateful for (and not), I’ve dug out one of my  favorite Thanksgiving columns from past years. It’s good to be reminded of what matters and also what doesn’t. The greatest thing is to have a safe place to go, a sense of home with others in this world.

 

By the time you read this column, many of you will be recovering from a big Thanksgiving meal with friends or family; maybe hitting stores on Black Friday for all the over-trumpeted sales. Not me—you won’t catch me NEAR a store on that day. Bargains, forget it. There is nothing I want that badly, nor want to give someone, that is worth it.

 

Who in their right mind wants to get up at 3 a.m. to line up, freezing, at some big box store glaring with fluorescent lights to load a cart to the gills and run over other shoppers. Sometimes a fight to the death according to various news reports over the years as the tradition grows (the tradition of stampedes and Black Friday sales, take your pick). I never have understood this kind of madness. To make it even worse, you have to pay for all that stuff in the long run!

 

Maybe it’s my innate grumpy and staid Taurus-the-bull nature, but I don’t enjoy insane crowds, fighting over plastic things, or trying to beat everybody to the prize. Heck, let someone else have it. Seems to me the real gift is sitting around the table, sharing food, love, maybe a football game or two…just being aware of what matters most. That is indeed “some small place of enchantment to turn to,” as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings once wrote.

 

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday, with dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All welcome; donations accepted.

Local goods, craft, holiday decor, and fall produce can be found at a special holiday Saluda Tailgate Market on Nov. 28, 1-3 p.m., at West Main St. parking lot. Many delightful Saluda shops and restaurants will be open longer hours as well; it’s Small Business Saturday—so shop local! You can enjoy a lovely meal, live music, art, craft, fresh produce and so much more right here in our small jewel of a mountain town.

 

Saluda Historic Depot has the Holiday Gallery featuring a variety of arts and craft items through Dec. 31, Thursday-Sunday, 12-4 p.m.

 

The annual Polk County Toy Run is Nov. 28. Starting at the Saluda Fire Department at 64 Greenville Street, registration is from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and the  parade starts at 2 p.m. Get those motorcycles and toys ready! For information, contact Barry Gee at 828-817-3084 or bgee1960@yahoo.com.

 

Join the community potluck/bingo night at Saluda Center, Nov. 30, 6 p.m. Bring a covered dish to share.

 

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) would love to have you volunteer or be a member; learn more by visiting saludaclt.org or by calling 828-749-1560.

 

Happy Birthday to Rich and Rita Igoe, Karen Johnson, Marsha Jenkins, Nancy Barnett, Dawn Pearson, Charles Pearson, Dusty Jespersen, Gwen Garren, Stoney Lamar, Jim Boyle, Tom Ellwood, Wendy McEntire, Aaron Burdett, Richard Baker, Donna Potruski, and Jane Thompson.

 

Thank you, dear readers for reading this column; I am thankful for YOU. Over the years, you have generously given feedback, appreciation, phone calls, notes, hugs, and journeyed with me through the adventures of four Shar-Peis. Not once has my mailbox been egged—but I’ve found homemade bread, turnip greens, and homemade soup out on the front porch a time or two! Each and every one of you is special to my heart! Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com or 749-1153. I always love hearing from you. You may also visit bonniebardosart.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.