| Mountain Surprises Over The Hill written by Lane Hudson |
| My affection for geography has always been divided between the shores of the Atlantic Ocean and the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains. My childhood was spent balanced on the invisible dividing line separating the Southern Piedmont and the Coastal Plain--where the ocean whitecaps were only a two-hour drive away; a frequent destination for family vacations. But the Appalachian Mountains were a lifetime away, requiring endless hours crammed in the blue Nash Rambler back seat with my sisters. And while distance may have limited our family visits to the mountains, the lack of familiarity only created mystery for me. So now, as a new resident of the upstate, South Carolina, just one hour from Asheville and minutes from the mountains, I bring, along with my family and furniture, a respect born of those few childhood trips. Even today, the mountains are magical; where days start with cool mornings and dripping dew. Where communities are slow in waking, and the fog lifts her skirt just enough for a creeping speed of travel. Where rest stops are overlook passes and roadside stands with jars of honey and bee wax; where tourist attractions are not multi-million dollar structures, but mom and pop displays of homemade crafts. According to Heather Conner, a friend who grew up in Asheville, N. C.: "Mountains are security to me, like a mother's love. Always ready to wrap their arms around me." For Heather, the mountains were the backdrop for the different acts of her life. "After I left home, no matter where I lived,” she says, “I sometimes looked over my shoulder, hoping to see my mountains, hoping for a hug.” What is the attraction for me? That’s easy. It is the anticipation. On a mountain road, as you top a hill, there is a split second of anticipation of something new and good happening – a deer, brilliant streaks of sunlight, or a Maple splashed with golden leaves – or maybe, just maybe, the simple awareness that nothing has changed since I last topped this hill. Which, when you consider it, can be a welcome surprise in itself, in our fast changing world. |
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