“Yesterday and today have been cool, perfect summer days… how few we’ve had lately! …days when the sea is dark, sparkling, and in the evening gradually pales to an angelic satiny blue, then slowly turns pink with the sky reflecting the sunset, hyacinthine, behind it. I drink the day like wine, intoxicated by the change after humidity and heat.” ~ May Sarton, excerpt from “The House By The Sea”
 

The mind (or in my case) what’s left of it, tends to remember music, memories, and vignettes just like yesterday, even if something from “back when”. (Just realized I was going to say “decades ago” but caught myself in time.) After all, I declare I’m still 3-9. Although that’s getting a little suspicious since I’ve started claiming it every birthday for since turning 50. Oops, I’m incriminating myself! 

 

Last Friday night, I was heading back home from an art opening, windows down, huge golden-marshmallow Florida cumulus clouds puffing up overhead, a pizza box on the passenger seat for lazy-girl dinner later, the car radio set on WNCW as I swished along the curves of winding two-lane ribbon toward Saluda. Next thing I know, it’s a throw-back to 1975 with “Third-Rate Romance” by Amazing Rhythm Aces and I’m howling right along—every word. Music does that, Dear Reader. We define the days of our lives by songs remembered. Music gives us a lift, takes us to a remembered time, place, people. 

 

If you asked if I had a favorite song, I don’t know I could ever pick just one—sort of akin to eating ONE potato chip, you can’t. I want more songs, another ‘tater chip…but I can tell you just hearing something out of the blue lifted my heart on a slow-as-molasses sultry summer evening streaming by rolled-down windows, deep-green cathedrals alongside the old silver Subaru, master-painter skies above. Thank goodness for music of our lives: for art, books, friends, birds that sing, and drinking the day like wine under golden-marshmallow clouds. 

Saluda Tailgate Market is Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the city’s parking lot on West Main Street.

 

Learn more about Saluda Community Land Trust (SCLT) by visiting saludaclt.org or calling 828-749-1560. For information on helping clear trails (next trail-clearing day is August 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) or “Walks in the Woods”, contact “Trail Boss” Chuck Hearon at (828) 817-0364 or chearon@skyrunner.net. The next walk is August 18 to the Missing 40. Meet at Saluda Library’s parking lot at 2:00 p.m. to carpool. 

 

Every Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., there’s a community pop-up food pantry at the Apple Mill, 1345 Ozone Drive (across from BP station). 

 

The next Top of the Grade concert will feature “One Leg Up” on August 9, at 7:00 p.m. at McCreery Park.

 

Saluda Singles will have a potluck August 12, 6:00 p.m. at Saluda Center; bring something delicious to share. 

 

 Saluda Historic Depot is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendar for Train Tales on August 16, at 7:00 p.m. with Lucas Safrat.

 

SLIP (Saluda Living in Place) and Dimple Joshi, PA, with Saluda Family Medicine will present “CBD Oil: What’s the Hype?” at Saluda Center, August 21, at 10:00 a.m.   

 

Saluda Community Table is every Thursday 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Saluda Center. Donations always appreciated. 

 

Saluda Get-Well goes to Cissy Thompson and Doris Marion. 

 

Saluda Sympathy goes to Judy Ward and family for the loss of her mother. 

 

Happy August Birthday to  B.J. Kent, Linda Kaye Haynes, Paul Stoney, Jen Pace, Zack Pace, Don Mintz, Caroline Tindal, Nora Ward, Samantha Ward, Reeda Ward, Natalie  Aabye, Verlie Murphy, Peter Eisenbrown, Coleman Bradley, Ryan Bradley, Libby Archer, Rodney Thompson, Cathy Jackson, Bill Jameson, and Tayloe Francisco.  Add your birthday to the list! 

 

Feel free to contact me at bbardos@gmail.com, (828) 749-1153, or visit bonniebardosart.com