v a c a t i o n

This has been one of the more restful and rich vacations F and I have ever been on. Our stay here in Weaverville has been quiet and slow paced. We spent two days (Sunday and Tuesday) just hanging around the house napping, watching tv, reading, napping again. We didn't turn on the computer until Wednesday evening.

We've sat out on the porch like two old farts, eating berries, reading aloud teachings from the Heart Advice of the Karmapa. The teachings are clear and concise and it is apparent His Holiness has strong feelings and opinions about living dharma in the modern world.

Wednesday we went to Cherokee. We had originally intended to gamble, but once there preferred to spend our time at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. It's a wonderful museum tracing the Cherokee on this continent from 11,000 B.C.E. to just after their removal from native lands via the trail of tears. It's very well done with dioramas, films, voice over exhibits and authentic costumes, tools and weapons. As we entered the museum we were greeted by an elderly Cherokee native who struck up a conversation with F (of course). Turns out he is the Cherokee on the brochures and is a member of the Wolf Clan of Cherokees. Unsolicited, he autographed a museum brochure with his photo on the cover and gave it to F.

Yesterday we spent a rainy day in downtown Asheville. We browsed a used bookstore, had cappuccino and a bagel at Izzy's coffee house, and spent a little more time at Malaprop's, where we had another cup of coffee and chatted. I bought 3 books, 2 by a local mystery writer named Sallie Bissell, and Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier. We decided to take the scenic route back to Weaverville and came across a lovely park along French Broad River. It had stopped raining by then and we walked down to the river to explore a little. There were a number of families in the park, wading in the river, picnicking, and fishing. An older man with 2 generations with him came over and chatted with us for a short while. He's a native of the area and talked about how much cleaner the river is now than it was 25 years ago. Unfortunately, this is a typical story in America. We have trashed this continent and it's really a shame, because it is so beautiful. We took several photos of the river, each other and a close-up of us. F picked berries from a tree and enjoyed them. We made our way back to the cottage and sat on the porch watching the hummingbirds and finches feed. Another lovely day.