“Conforming happens so naturally that we can forget how powerful it is. But the things that makes us human are those times we listen to the whispers of our soul and allow ourselves to be pulled in another direction.” 

~ Evan Spiegel 

 

The new RiverStreet phone book came in today’s mail. With River dog following along, I toted the morning’s mail up the old front porch steps to sort through the assorted offerings. Junk, junk, credit card come-ons (more junk). Luckily no bills, unluckily no checks or lottery pay-offs. No dog treats either. We both lost interest after that.

Pushing a pair of reading glasses up on my nose, I thumbed through the latest phone book, remarking to River that Tryon was misspelled, the print was too small to read, and they’d forgotten to earmark a tab for Saluda pages.

We carried it on in the house, and I piled it on last year’s edition. I’m not sure why I keep a phone book around anymore, unless it’s to mark the passing of time. There seem to be a lot more names this year in the Saluda pages, probably quite a few gone. Somewhere around here, I’ve got one from 1950s, when folks had just two or three digits to dial, and another phone book from the ‘90s. Sort of a quiet record of how things change, people come and go, and print just continues to get smaller and smaller over the years!

Saluda Tailgate Market is open on Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street. Local honey, fresh produce, baked goodies, plants, and much more!

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. “Walks in the Woods” are on the first and third Sundays each month. Free swimming lessons will be at Twin Lakes this summer. 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 on the HistoricSaluda.org website. Saluda Train Tales are held on the third Friday each month April through October. The next one is today, June 17, at 7 p.m. and will feature Saluda natives Lee Atkins, Hilda Pace and Genell Jesperson. The depot is open Thursday through Sunday, noon – 4 p.m.

There’s a citywide yard sale on June 18 (7 a.m. – 3 p.m.) at Saluda School’s tennis courts, McCreery Park, Pavilion and around town. To reserve a free space, request a sign or for more information, call 828-749-3789.

Saluda Garden Club meets June 20 at 10 a.m. at Saluda Library.

On June 26 from 1:30-7 p.m., Steamy Mug is hosting a block party to raise money for Saluda’s McCreery Park master plan fund and to help make the park handicap accessible along with improving the park for families and kids. There will be vendors, live music, barbecue, drinks, fun for the kids, bachelor auction and silent auction. Tickets available now.

The Saluda branch of Tree City USA meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Saluda Library.

Saluda Center potluck and bingo is June 27 at 6 p.m.

Coon Dog Day is July 9.

Happy June birthday to Nancy Barnett, Verne Dawson, Peggy Ellwood, Anna Jackson, Charlie Jackson, Amy Violet Ford, Terry Arrington, Julie Arrington, Susie Welsh Hearn, Jeremy Edwards, John Savage, Eleanor Morgan, Mary Lu Price and Sigi Hendrickson.

Thank you dear readers, for reading this column! Each and every one of you is special to my heart. I want you to feel like we’re visiting on the leafy, flower-filled front porch enjoying a cool glass of tea together in a small 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.