“Now in the blessed days of more and less when the news about time is that each day there is less of it I know none of that as I walk out through the early garden only the day and I are here with no before or after and the dew looks up without a number or a present age”

W.S. Merwin, “Dew Light”

After a savage beastly night of rain, roaring wind, crashing trees, the world around these parts starts picking up the pieces again. Chainsaws and power crews are on the job: area roads, roofs and homes took a serious beating from tornado-like winds, probably the hurricane’s little brother dropping by. Folks come out of their houses to survey the damage, and look around. I’m here! I’m here! There you are! Here we are!

I patrol the yard with River tagging along on guard duty and property inspection, surveying the wet basement. We pick up yard furniture and overturned pots. Pine needles, oak leaves and branches carpet streets.

A young woman sashays barefoot, carrying shoes and backpack, across Main Street on her way to work at a restaurant. Strutting crows dive from power lines to field, graceful and certain that the world revolves around them still.

Saluda Tailgate Market is open Fridays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the city parking lot off Main Street. Last week I loaded up on late corn from Junior Gilbert’s truckload of taters, corn and glorious cabbages, along with Walter Hoover’s sweet potatoes, a sachet of lavender to tuck in a pillow for sweet dreams, and one of Rose’s savory dinner pies while admiring purple jewels of eggplant, crimson-red tomatoes amid bright fall bouquets blooming on vendors’ tables. You can’t leave with one thing!

Saluda Welcome Table is each Tuesday at Saluda Methodist Church from 5:30-6:45 p.m. Everyone welcome; donations appreciated.

Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) will have a Walk in the Woods to the waters of Camp Creek, Oct. 15. Meet at 2 p.m., Saluda Library parking lot to carpool. For information on hikes, contact Chuck Hearon at 828-817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net. Don’t forget SCLT needs volunteers for grant research/writing, office assistance, publicity/newsletter as well as outdoor fieldwork/trail clearing or monitoring easements, GPS, and photography. Contact SCLT at 828-749-1560 or visit www.saludasclt.org. 

Saluda Living in Place (SLIP) (aimed at helping seniors stay in their homes) will sponsor free health screenings, refreshments, and information from different agencies on Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Saluda Fire Department on Greenville Street. For information contact Edie Campbell at 828-243-0734 or becampbell@charter.net.

Saluda Historic Depot is located at 32 West Main Street. Saluda Train Tales are held on the third Friday each month at 7 p.m. through October; the next one will be Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. with Ray Rapp.

There’ll be a Candidates Forum at Saluda Center on Oct. 25, 6 p.m.

Saluda Center Potluck and Bingo night is Oct. 30, 6 p.m.

A Saluda get-well goes to Rita Igoe and Melody Gibson, and congratulations to Mary Ann Asbill for ‘ringing the bell.’

Happy October Birthday to Cissy Thompson, Patricia Case, Joan Barker, Gary Corn, Aaron Bradley, Amanda Burrell Anderson, Lisa Orr, Marilyn Prudhomme, Bubba Dawson, Kirby Jackson, Mary Ann Asbill, Sheila Billeter, Carol Thompson, Mildred Hipp, Dean Bradley, and Susan Wheeler. Add your birthday to the list! Just email or call me and please be sure to clearly state your phone number on the answering machine if you need a call returned!

Thank you, dear readers, for reading this column. You can contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, 828-749-1153, or bonniebardosart.com.