Liking Labor Day

Although it's a little cloudy and a little too warm and humid for the mountains, I am liking Labor Day. Why? Because we are among old friends (and I mean that in kind and in time). People from the Carolinas meet here for a 10 days of enjoying friends. Families gather together to eat meals cooked on grills (I can't stand to be outside during meal time because I can smell, bacon and ham in the morning, beans and the like at lunch, and chicken or steaks at dinner). The park is about half-full this morning but will be completely full by noon tomorrow. All the best sites are taken and most of them were occupied when we arrived Friday at noon. The rally doesn't officially begin until Thursday so all early arrivals are merely sightseeing, visiting, shopping, etc. Yesterday, we went to the huge flea market at Jamestown and spent much of the day. We had planned to go to Mount Mitchell today but since it's cloudy and due to possible traffic, we will probably stay near the park. Maybe tomorrow we will make that trip or something similar.

All that was happy thought and times; however, I must mention the sad news of the day. One of our childhood friends passed away Friday and family and friends will celebrate her life this afternoon. Although she was about 7 years younger than I, we did often play together as children. I recall the many school days when she would walk to our house to catch the school bus. (We met at my home because we sat on the top of the hill and could easily see the bus as it stopped at the bottom to pick up a child there). On cold days, Mom would allow the neighborhood children to come into the house out of the elements to wait for the bus. I recall that all the children were well-behaved as we playfully awaited the arrival of the bus. Joy, an only child, never appeared to be spoiled and was a quiet, well-behaved friend. After all of us grew up, she moved away but in the past several years returned to the area and often attended our local church, bringing her mom for preaching services. We will miss Joy's quiet nature, her pleasant smile, and her sweet presence.