January 29, 2022 – Life Goes On, or So They Promise

I had to stay goodbye to my sweet Clancie on January 25, 14 years and 1 day after I rescued her. Really, she rescued me. The grief has been overwhelming, but the love and support from so many assures me that eventually the tears of sadness will be replaced with only fond memories of a very special dog.

We have had two January snows, one 10″ and this one from last night only 1″ at my house. Others around Asheville are reporting much more. But our high temperature will be in the mid 20s today. Gotta keep moving out there!

I live in a very rural cove where farmers keep goats, cows, donkeys, and even a llama or two. Alas, an HGTV developer from Minneapolis decided to apply for rezoning of 75 acres for R-2 designation. This by law would allow 12 units per acre! Oh, goodness…the entire cove has pulled together to dissuade the planning board and the county commissioners of this very terrible idea. Steep slopes with impervious surfaces will destroy Robinson Creek. The high traffic count on very curvy, mountain roads will be a traffic and safety nightmare. And on top of this, they have an additional 100 acres that could also be rezoned in the future. SAY NO TO REZONING PINNERS COVE prevailed at the planning board level with a no vote of 7-1. The county commissioners will hear the case on February 15, 2022. Neighbors who did not know each other have gotten out to meet, to put up signs, and to share ideas in zoom meetings. I love being reminded that besides living in my immediate community of Greenwood, I am also connected to all of Pinners Cove. Yes, life does go on and I must be a part of it, even in grief.

I know that keeping busy is a necessary part of healing. So of course I went out for a walk in the woods this morning. Bright blue skies, snow and Mother Nature are helping me heal.

Katherine May wrote a lovely book titled Wintering: How to Survive When Life is Frozen. In it she writes, “Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.” These words soothe my spirit and remind me that Clancie gave me one of the loveliest chapters in my life.