We’re back from Montreat, Billy Graham’s childhood home. It’s now hosts the Presbyterian retreat center for pastors and ministry workers, called Billy’s Home Place.
It’s also a rain forest with unusual bird species, which I can’t remember, but they were impressive. And it’s the Salamander Capital of the world! This information from my grandson John, allowing me to skip the town tour.
But clearly, with my same retention level.
He didn’t explain how a town becomes the world’s Salamander Capital – next year!
Don’t know if the Chinese were involved in that election…
And not to be a doubter, but I never saw a salamander – next year!
Fortunately, didn’t see a widely discussed bear – not next year!
We’re also back from the 50’s, Montreat essentially in a weird – but comfortable – time warp.
The town motto: A Place Set Apart, it definitely that!
Our 3rd summer there, with our daughter and her husband’s extended family: Delightful people all.
Who grew up summering there, their daily diversion the clubs run by the Montreat Conference Center, their children now enjoying the same diversion.
And while I’m sure the clubs – it takes a couple of days to quit calling them camps – vary their activities daily, our annual trip is like Groundhog’s Day: There’s a daily routine that is familiar and comforting.
The group heads out at 8:20A, heads down the hill to the club sites for check-ins.
As an aside, I feel guilty calling it just a ‘hill’ – it deserves its own post. Maybe next week… A tough walk: The biggest ‘hill’ at SSI our front steps.
The clubs are organized by age, and given that our son-in-law has 3 siblings with 11 cousins total, there’s a couple of Berry cousins in every class.
This year, our granddaughter Nora came from Alexandria with her mother, so throw in a Chess cousin!
After drop-off is complete, we head to The Gate, literally a gate marking the Montreat town limit.
And then back up the hill, roughly a 3-mile round trip; a very stiff trip. Arriving home once again confirming my belief in God.
Groups of ‘clubbers’ everywhere, cars politely stopping at the crosswalks. Kids walking unaccompanied, no one accused of free-range parenting – it just works.
And waving at everyone, because everyone waves back.
Despite being a ‘suburb’ of Asheville, no influx of people moving here, no teardowns, but lots of renovation work given the 1908 construction dates you see around the ‘hills’.
Our rental home with a definite ‘1908’ floors slant…
And our son-in-law’s parent’s house celebrating its centennial next year!
And while we missed it, the town with a big July 4th parade each year, this year with historical cosplay. Bully, Duncan, Bully!
Though I didn’t see Ike in the photos.
Clubs adjourning for lunch, back again for an afternoon session.
After end-of-day pick-up, dinner in or out.
One of the best parts of time in Montreat, the neighboring ‘city’ of Black Mountain, with a full assortment of restaurants and bars; some of the restaurants world class.
All the Asheville ‘vibe’, without the traffic. And far fewer tattoos.
Even a nearby Ingle’s, a large, fully stocked supermarket, big in rural areas.
And through the week, time with family, cousins traveling between the 3 houses holding everyone.
As John also quotes: “Lost in our minds”. A very relaxing week.
That thought echoing the week’s theme, the Serenity Prayer wall hanging:
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
A life road map, no matter the decade…
ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR WITH THE FOLLOWING ‘AGING HIPSTER MUSIC/READING’:
Matt Pond PA is a long-time favorite, who might have a new album out. Hard to tell. But Spotify plays him in Release Radar, so there’s that. But three decades of good stuff.
And Love Is Not Enough still available on Amazon. What a great read for anyone who has dealt with mental health or addiction issues. Or just wants to read about family love and recovery.