“…Flaming like the wild roses,
Singing like the larks over the plowed fields,
Flashing like a star out of the twilight;
Youth with its insupportable sweetness,
Its fierce necessity,
Its sharp desire,
Singing and singing,
Out of the lips of silence,
Out of the earthy dusk.”

~ Willa Cather, excerpt from “Prairie Spring”

Outside on a crisp March morning, my pet “Pink Goblet” magnolia unfurls glorious pink buds against a backdrop of blue sky, fooled into thinking it’s safe. Nearly every spring, that silly tree can’t wait to bloom a bit too early, and buds often get zapped by frost.

However, after a bout with the dreaded black plague this week (well, it feels like plague), I’m hopeful that the glorious pink tree and its weather-beaten self make it another round. I have to tell you, dear reader, the good thing about not being able to eat, drink or talk is it’s a great diet. Those Marie Osmond weight loss commercials got nothin’ on this. Works wonders! However, I would not care for another round of it. Murphy’s Law: when you can’t talk and are laid up in bed trying to rest, the phone will ring 50 times a day (annoying telemarketers and political calls do not stop for the plague, I promise you.)

Yesterday, kind-hearted John and Lynn Savage left off a care-package of veggie soup and other goodies. Over the past few days, I have been avoiding people like the plague so I don’t give them the plague. (Don’t you wish more people would return that favor, especially when they’re hacking all over you at the grocery store line?)

Upon leaving the bag at my door, a grinning John yelled “Meals on Wheels!” as he bailed for safety. I had a giggle at that, so things are looking up around here. If you can laugh at your own pain, in between coughing fits, the Black Plague has nothin’ on you.

Saluda Welcome Table is every Tuesday. Dinner is served from 5:30-7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Saluda United Methodist Church. All are welcome; donations accepted.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) benefits from your donations or time as a volunteer for their many community projects. Mark your calendar for the annual meeting with speaker and naturalist Doug Elliot scheduled on April 13. Litter pick-up for “Adopt-A-Highway” is March 14 (rain date March 21), 10 a.m. at Saluda Library parking lot. All supplies provided. The popular “Walks in the Woods” return in April on first and third Sundays. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org.

Donations to help support Saluda Historic Depot can be sent to P.O. Box 990, Saluda, NC 28773 or HistoricSaluda.org. Photographer Chad Blotner is the featured artist for March. Saluda Train Tales will be on March 18, 6:30 p.m.

All veterans are invited to a free breakfast at Ward’s Grill on March 19. Please bring a fellow vet.

Plan on bringing your little ones to the Easter Egg Hunt for children up to age 12 across from Memorial Park (empty lot on Irwin/Greenville), March 26, 2-4 p.m. Bring your own basket and a camera. The Easter Bunny will be hopping around! For information, call 828-749-3789.

Enjoy a community potluck and bingo night at Saluda Center, March 28, 6 p.m. All are welcome. Bring along a favorite dish to share!

Happy March birthday to Faye Chandler, Genell Jespersen, Charlene Pace, Valerie Mintz, Sheldon Mintz, Curtis Pace, Anita Odgen Moore, Charles Weinhagen,   Kevin Kerr, Dorrie McKinnley, Catherine Ross, Jane Fox, Beverly Pickard, Monica Pace, Ken Justus,  Elizabeth Justus,  Arlene Klippel, Rachel Bradley, Chris Bradley, and Martha Stoney Anderson. Please add your birthday to the list. No ages mentioned unless you’re under 2 or over 100!

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column. I love hearing from you! Whether you live here, or just wish you were here, the goal is to make you feel welcome and right at home in our friendly little mountain town called Saluda. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, or 749-1153, visit bonniebardosart.com for more writing and art, or find me on Facebook.