Sense of Fairness

When I traveled to Burnsville in Yancey County for the Carolina Mountains Literary Festival I walked, exploring the town to get the sense of it. The statue of Otway Burns (1775-1850) stating he was a hero intrigued me. The War of 1812 was primarily a fight on or near the water i.e. the Great Lakes, the Atlantic coastline towns and the coastal area of New Orleans. So why a statue of Burns in the Appalachian Mountains?

Further researching found Burns born, raised and living in the coastal town of Swansboro before the war. After the war ended, he moved to another town abutting the Atlantic, Beaufort, some distance north of Swansboro. He continued building ships and expanding his businesses and investments. In 1821 he began his political career as a Democrat serving seven terms in the House and four in the Senate.

Even though he represented the eastern county, he recognized the western counties of North Carolina were not granted fair representation in the General Assembly. When called on for a Special State Constitutional Convention to consider increasing the representation of the western counties, he voted for it. His eastern constituents never forgave him. He was not re-elected.

In gratitude, Yancey County named its county seat after the statesman who believed in a sense of fairness. Are there any more politicians out there who would vote for the sense of fairness rather than the ‘me’ and ‘mine’ only aspect?

Books I Need to Read

When I need to buy a particular book for researching what I’m writing or wondering about, I order it online. Sometimes new, usually used. But when I go into a bookstore whether it’s for new or used books, I like to just meander the aisles in the sections I like. Letting my eyes roam over the book titles and dust jackets is like looking at a menu in an upscale restaurant. I don’t enter that kind of eating establishment with a preset mind. I enjoy seeing what is offered and reading the descriptions of each selection.

I rarely choose the familiar entrée, opting instead for something with a pairing of ingredients that tweaks my curious palate. In the bookshop it seems an invisible hand reaches out, grabbing me to select the book my mind cries out to read. Any book I’ve bought this way has left me happy with my choice.

Oftentimes it’s been a book that I absolutely loved. I wonder if the title I plucked has sparked a memory or some kind of connection that’s telling me “you need the contents of this book.” With my passion for history, I ask myself if the book I chose is a link to a past life. Maybe it’s a tie that nourishes a memory lying beneath my surface needing to be built on. The more I learn in this lifetime, the less demands the next lifetime will be.

Finding Stuff

Coming from Bordentown, New Jersey where New York is an hour away and Philadelphia is half that far with multiple large cities in-between, I often wondered why my friends at Shoppe 202 received so many mail orders for Yankee Candles. I know it’s a good candle, the only one I usually burn, but you don’t really have to drive to a particular zip code to find them. They’re offered for sale in so many stores.

Now I understand. Living rurally over an hour north of Raleigh with only tiny towns in between, has given me a new perspective. Besides, even getting to the big city doesn’t mean I’ll find the items I found everywhere in Jersey. Talking with the gals from New Bern (see Conti’s) who traveled two hours to find an Italian Deli let me know I’m not the only person who shops by mail order. With the price of gasoline being so high it makes even more sense to pay the shipping.

I believe this will change in the near future because so many northerners are moving to North Carolina. They’ll want the convenience of buying familiar items locally.

Conti’s Italian Market

I’ve been looking for a place to buy Italian products since I’ve moved here. Alas, it’s been a nearly three-year struggle, but finally I found Conti’s Italian Market. I arrived at the store just before noon. The aroma caressed my nose the second my foot hit the floor. Ah! An Italian Deli has an aroma that calls you to sunny Italy in an instant. Or Mulberrry Street in New York.

Unexpectedly, I saw that they also serve the food they make, as in homemade Lasagna, Eggplant Parmesan, Spinach Manicotti, Gnocchi and Beef & Veal Cannelloni; all served with the lightest, tastiest meatballs. I had the Lasagna and brought half of it home for supper. The portions are generous, the prices so reasonable. A hearty Masicarelli red wine complimented the food just as it should.

Freshly made antipasto, soups, salads and pizzas are also offered along with Italian sausages, pepperoni, sopressa, marvelous chunks of cheese, olive oils, a variety of vinegars, and too many other goodies that I’ve been unable to find in local food markets.

While I was enjoying my lunch, twenty-five women came in from New Bern! That’s a two-hour trip! They chartered a bus to bring them to the Farmers Market, to Conti’s and then somewhere else to lunch. (Conti’s seating area is too small to accommodate 25 for lunch.)

Conti’s Italian Market at 618 N. Person Street in Raleigh is open Tuesday through Saturday but check for the seasonal hours at: 919-836-8368. Sometimes he’s open on Sundays, too.

Grapevines

When I was in Burnsville, walking around the square (pun intended) the scents of lavender and other flowers planted along the sidewalk floated up to my nose as I passed. Reaching the huge front deck of the Garden Deli I could barely make out that a deck was there because the flowers and vines are so lush and thick. The sweet scent of ripening grapes and grapevines filled the area.

The large grape leaves and wisteria grow up the front and over the top covering the rafters of the deck so thickly that I doubt if rain drips through. An umbrella adorns each table just in case it does. But it’s the scent of the grapevines that pulled at me as I walked by.

I notice many grape arbors, usually in the back portion of properties as I drive in North Carolina from the east coast to the mountains. Inhaling the aroma and seeing the arbors kicks up the memory of running through these sweet tunnels as a youngster until the grapes were ripe. Then the bees became so thick in number and so busy that I didn’t dare to intrude on their territory.

Four Leaf Clovers

A memory risen from Debra Moffitt's email.

Did you search for four-leaf clover as a youngster? I did. They were scarce in my neighborhood. I had to scour the grass closely day after day in the summertime. When I found one, a joy erupted as I leaped in the air is success!

Then the bigger problem of what to do with it arose. Should I keep it, put it in a book to have forever. Then I could keep the good luck with me. Or should I share it and give it to a dearest friend. Would my friend appreciate my efforts enough to keep it always and remember always who sacrificed it?

A gift. In those days it was a gift whether I kept it or gave it away. Alas. Today the seeds are manipulated and four-leaf clovers grow in abundance taking away the delight in finding some scare thing that even a child could find.

Political Words

Words and statements made during the campaign for the primary elections are especially noted. The words used to ridicule the opponent were often retracted or usually just not mentioned again later for the national election campaign. The line drawn gets erased and the offender often becomes the promoter. Go figure. If he was a bad guy before, what’s changed that he’s now a good guy?

Newscasters are the worst offenders of words because they go with what’s fashionable at the moment. Attack! Attack! They seem to do or say anything in order to be in today’s spotlight. Shining at the expense of someone else’s demise. Even when they are interviewing an invited guest on their show, they’ll cut the person short if the words aren’t what he wants to hear. What ever happened to respecting someone else’s opinion? Whatever happened to simply, good manners? How can the youth of our nation be condemned for mimicking what they see and hear on a serious TV news show?

Words.

Power of Words

Have you ever thought about the power of words? A body could get stabbed, shot or wounded physically, a scab would form, eventually fall off and the body is healed. It may leave a scar but not much of one nowadays.

But words; words can wound so deeply that it may take years and years and maybe never to heal. I remember words that my fourth grade teacher wrote in my autograph book that still ring in my head today. The autograph book disappeared when I left my childhood home fifty years ago. Her words weren’t hurtful fortunately.

Even in a lovers’ quarrel where words are hurled at each other without thought, the words remain long after the lovers resolve their difference of opinion. Usually that’s all it is but angry words settle deep inside and stay there.

As a society, we’re careless of the words we use even when they are being broadcasted over the airwaves. Personally I think words spoken are a reflection on the person talking but too often they are remembered as a slur on the person they’re thrown at. Thus leaving a deep scar-less wound.

Even More Festival

Coming home and spreading my treasures out on the bed to fawn over is just as enjoyable as the buying of them. I pick up each book, let my hands slide over the dust jacket, read the back cover blurbs, read the inside flaps, read the inscription on the title page written thoughtfully by the author. I let the book fall open where it may, lift it to my nose and inhale. A-h-h-h. The aroma resulting from the care and labor of a bookmaker enters my body and seeps into my deepest core. There’s nothing else like it in my world.

With each book that’s been signed, I’ll carry the image of the author’s expression when she (or he) lifts her pen to write a brief note in her creation. There’s deep satisfaction at that moment. It’s like giving birth and holding the baby after the pain subsides.

It’s personal.

More Literary Festival

Charles Price, author of “Nor the Battle to the Strong” was at the Festival. It was through his book signing at Quail Ridge in Raleigh that I learned about it. He wrote a wonderful novel on the Revolutionary War in the Carolinas. Add Gerald Carbone, author of “Nathanael Greene, A Biography of the American Revolution.” Add Dennis Conrad, Charles Baxley, John Buchanan, all with a hand in that period, and Suzanne Adair who writes fiction about women in the same war using factual information. I was fascinated by all their knowledge in a subject I can easily fall into and live in while I'm reading the book.

Peggy Poe Stern told stories of the mountains and fell into ghost stories and hauntings. I felt right at home. She’s a delightful storyteller. I could’ve spent days talking with her and days listening to Joanne Mauldon talk about Thomas Wolfe. Interesting stuff.

Gary Neil Carden had everyone laughing heartily with his stories about “Blow the Tannery Whistle.” His Scot grandmother, being thrifty with syllables, called him “Gar-neel!” He’s a North Carolina Public Television storyteller. It was a great way to spend a weekend!

Carolina Mountains Literary Festival

When like minds come together exciting conversations take place. I went to the Festival this past weekend in Burnsville, North Carolina. It’s a charming mountain town beautifully laid out. The large square in the center has a statue of namesake Otway Burns hero of the War of 1812-1814. Buildings important to the town line the outer rim of the square.

Saturday sessions with authors were complimented with live music in the town square. There’s plenty of lawn that folks could spread out a blanket or pop open a chair. BBQ dinners were offered, too. The music was loud enough to be heard but not so loud to be disruptive.

Some literary sessions were entertaining, some were panel discussions, some were talks by authors. Several different writers piqued my curiosity further. Naturally I had to browse the books available to buy in the Town Community Center, got them signed during the lunch or before-dinner break. I came home with a book bag full. Oh, well. At least they don’t add inches to my abundant waistline.

PC Troubles

Computer problems usually send me into a tailspin frenzy as soon as I encounter them. Mainly because I’m afraid I don’t know where to begin to know how to fix them or imagine having to spend an exorbitant amount of money. But not this time. This time I was ready for it.

My PC monitor has been overcast with the color pink for the last month. I thought I needed a new Video Card. When the screen finally went blank, instead of stressing out I headed for Norlina Computers. Alan checked my PC and told me right away that it was a loose connection or the monitor. He didn’t try to sell me anything I didn’t need or pursue unnecessary repairs. Ya gotta luv an honest repairman!

Sunday I bought a new wide-screen monitor. Something new-they’re all wide-screen now! Bet this one doesn’t last as long as my recent one!