Autumn Leaves

The fall weather has been spectacular here in western North Carolina, inviting long rides on the Burg like this one to Hooker's Falls in DuPont State Park near Brevard.  The air is so crisp and clean, each breath is like the first one - full of life!

Last week I helped a friend celebrate her birthday by going to Zambras, a Spanish tapas restaurant with excellent food and a bar like no other.  We had to try the Absinthe cocktail, seen above, just to experience the preparation if nothing else.  This device delivers drops of ice water onto a sugar cube at just the right speed.  The result is a 148 proof licorice like-libation that makes your brain smile and want "just one more sip".

Animal blessing day at Jubilee! is like a day at the zoo with all the animals loose!  I saw one mouse, 2 horses, 1 cat, 1 boa constrictor and lots of canines.  The noises and smells alone made it a very special occasion.  The biggest blessing was the horses not having to relieve themselves during the service!  I was thankful for that!  The musical prelude was "Old MacDonald Had a Farm".  I don't think I've ever seen so much diversity in one room before.  It was grand!

After attending the first of two memorial services this week, I found my way to Greenman Brewery to sample their suds.  More about that in a minute.  The first service was for George Carrel, a Stacy dorm mate at Carolina who I hadn't seen since '70 or so.  My friend Wayne Caldwell called to inform me of George's passing, the graveside service and said we could ride together.  George took his own life, which added to the shock of his passing.  His grave is in Green Hill Cemetery, where my parents and grandparents are interred.  Afterward I returned to Ambiance, where Wayne works, and we sat on the porch and rocked and talked for a while.  It was soul soothing to say the least.  On the way home, I stopped at Greenman Brewery to refill a growler and was entertained by all the stickers on the wall (above).  My favorite:  "Raising children is like being pecked to death by a chicken."  That one had me rolling for several minutes!  Another: "I'm so miserable without you it's like having you here."  They were also serving a pink beer in honor of breast cancer awareness, with proceeds going to a research fund.  The beer was called....Twin Peaks!  And it was very tasty!

A trip to the hearing aid place in Weaverville resulted in an impromptu trip to Hot Springs on a gorgeous day.  The pictographs on this cliff, Painted Rock,  are dated at 2500 BC.  It's hard for me to imagine the number of creatures that have visited here and gazed upon it.  I'm just one more visitor in the big circle.

The week also included a meeting of the Enka High School reunion planning group at the Country Club of Asheville.  Pictured above are Larry Gant and Mike Jones from the class of '65, my class.  The next reunion will also include the classes of '64 and '66, plus a golf outing on the day of the dinner-dance, August 11, 2012.  I volunteered to be point person for the golf, as I would love to play with my classmates in a game I never imagined I would play when I was in high school.  I was very pleasantly surprised when a classmate, Charles Glazener '66, said I had changed his life when I suggested he look into Air Force ROTC.  He did and became a pilot, retiring after 20 some years.  It was great to see everyone!

The second memorial service of the week was for the mother of a high school, college and ROTC classmate, Terry Furness.  She was Margaret Nash Furness, age 91, and from all accounts a very fine person.  I regret that I never met her, so I was glad to learn more about her as well as be present to honor her life.  It was good to see Terry and several other classmates, including Wayne Caldwell again. 

Reminders of life's brevity seem to be everywhere this week, from the falling leaves to the passing of people. On Monday, it will have been 3 years since the passing of LaVerne, my late wife.  My recent sad moments have been very intense, yet thankfully brief.  I'll honor LaVerne on October 10 by writing about her here and posting a pic or 2.

When grief pays a visit, sometimes I feel like this guy in the hay bale - all wrapped up in it and unable to breath.  Then I remember I'm never alone and a warm glow from my heart spreads to the rest of me.  Life is truly good!  Very good!