On a beautiful sunny Wednesday afternoon, when the sky was crystal blue and only a few cotton candy clouds drifted by, papers were signed. Papers were signed and the purchase was complete on a cabin perched near a mountaintop in the North Carolina mountains with a road there that is narrow, steep and almost hidden.
On that beautiful day the proud new owners went up that road to the cabin to admire the beautiful views that are afforded to anyone who is lucky enough to find their way there. Inside was clean and tidy, though a bit old and outdated. The quietness that cloaked the mountaintop made a serene haven from a bustling world of business, traffic and work. The cabin was dubbed Serenity. Their only regret was they couldn’t stay for the weekend.
On Friday the remnants of Hurricane Helene arrived with a vengeance bringing rain, lots of rain, wind and tornadoes. Downed trees filled the mountainsides in the wake of the storm. It was a miracle no flood waters washed Serenity off the mountaintop, no tornadoes hit it and no trees fell directly on it. Instead a multitude of fallen trees blocked the narrow road up the mountain side so Serenity sat lonely and inaccessible.
That was in September. It would be March before the road was cleared. During a winter with more storms, cold weather and no one going to the cabin, mice moved in. They enjoyed their stay despite being messy, destructive, uninvited houseguests. With the road now cleared I went to help with the clean up in preparation for my June stay.
Serenity is the perfect place to finish drafting my first novel. There is lots to be done before I begin my writing retreat. Top priority: put a fence in so I can take my dogs with me.
Runes & Rust 