Not a typical Saturday . . .

My camera died.

It died on our way home from the beach.


My much loved Canon G12 that I bought myself as a retirement gift in January 2011.


That camera has walked out the door with me practically every day since I bought it.


So.  Today we went by Ball Photography in Asheville to drop it off for repair, but ended up not leaving it after all.  The initial repair quote was waaay higher than I anticipated, and that was only an estimate with a possibility of it being even a good bit higher.


This will take a little consideration.


Do you put that much money into a camera, buy a new camera - upgrade to a better camera?  What to do, what to do???



Then as we were leaving, a man pulled up next to us and asked us to stop.


He told us he had noticed the bad scrap on the side of the car that I did in the Lowe's Food parking lot several months ago.

He was traveling around with his auto body repair tools in his car after giving up his shop he'd had for several years.  Now just working out of his car doing body repairs.

I have to tell you.  This was all very odd.

I mean . . .

Think about it.



Long story short (well, as short as I can make one, anyway), we listened.  We ended up talking to this man for a pretty good while.  The longer we talked, the less cynical we found ourselves feeling.

He just didn't "feel" like a con man.

So.

He followed us to where we were headed after giving us a price for the repair.  An excellent price.


Where we were headed was to the Harley-Davidson dealership.  He knew exactly where that was, met us there and did the repair.  Did a fine job too!  But not as good as he had thought he could do and was disappointed in the finished job.  Because of this, he only charged us half of what he had quoted us.

Frankly.  I was stunned by all this.


This whole experience just felt surreal.


But.  It was as real as real is.



This was a very nice man who obviously takes a great deal of pride in his work.

I have no idea what the story is behind why he's now doing what he's doing out of his car rather than out of the shop he once owned.


I suspect it's economy related.


Or,you know, maybe his partner robbed him of his share of the business.  Or maybe his ex-wife got the business in the divorce.  Or maybe he drank and gambled it all away.


Or maybe he was just tired of the hassle of running a business and decided to work out of his car.


Who knows??


Anyway.


He did a good job.  We insisted he take money for the original quote he gave us  rather than the half he now said was all the repair was worth - not as well done as he thought he could do it.



I've worried a little over this man most of the day.


But, you know.  He may be doing just exactly what he wants to be doing.  So I need to quit fretting over every soul I meet.


Next thing that happened is Donald and I looked at Harley Davidson motorcycles.


The salesman was the nicest guy you ever could hope to meet.


No hard sales talk.

Just honest answers to questions we asked.

We both liked him.

Donald and I are both turned off by a hard sales pitch and have walked out on many a sale over the years because of it.


And, we ended up walking out this time too.


Not  because of Danny, our salesperson, but because of the person who had the job of making the final decision on the negotiating.


And this guy was, as I told, Danny - a prick.


So.  We left.


We drove around.  We went for coffee.  We went to an antique mall.

And we talked.

We talked about Harleys.


Donald Barley and I have been together for over 30 years.


When I first met him,one of the first conversations I remember us having was about motorcycles and how much he loved them.


And I told him about the two friends I had lost on motorcycles.


I guess I thought Don's love for bikes would die.  You know - sort of like how most teenage girls go through their horse phases?  But outgrow them?


Like that.


But.

That's not what happened.


Donald has looked at, lusted after, and wanted a motorcycle forever.


And you know what?


Life is short.


I finally came to the realization that I was just wrong.  Who am I to say "NO.  You cannot have a motorcycle??"  I'm his partner.  He's 61 years old.  He doesn't need me acting like I'm his mom.  I'm his wife.

Life is short.

It's very, very short.

Why should he be denied the only thing I've ever heard him really say he wanted.


So.


We went back to the Harley place.


Back to talk to Danny.

I left all this to Donald while Harley and I sat in the car and played on Facebook.


And, now . . .


We're proud owners of a brand new Harley Davidson Switchback Motorcycle.


Now here's the truth.


I will die 100 deaths every time he leaves the house on that bike until he returns.


But.


You know what?


I almost lost him a few years ago to a heart attack.


Didn't have a thing to do with a motorcycle.



Today while he was looking at bikes, I remembered that day.  And I thought to myself how very, very sad it would have been if he had died that day without ever having had the Harley he so dearly wanted.


That's not what our lives should be.


We shouldn't worry about dying on a motorcycle.


We should enjoy the hell out of being on the road feeling free riding the bike we were meant to ride.


And that's what I want him to do.


And I hope he does it until he dies of old age asleep next to me in bed.


In the meantime  - -   Life is short.  Let's live it.  And Lord a Mercy - let me quit suffocating the people I care about with my frettin' and worrying.

Road Trip!

Donald and I love a road trip.

But NOBODY loves a road trip more than Harley!

We're rarely in a big hurry for anything, so we're able to enjoy the beauty of the trip and all it has to offer along the way.

We see tons of wonderful barn quilts between Boone and Asheville, but catching one is sometimes a challenge

Before we got to our hotel in Asheville, Donald spotted a couple of signs for The Sourwood Festival in Black Mountain, so we pulled over and spent a perfect afternoon just strolling and enjoying the delights of a small town festival.

Harley met lots of dogs.

and made friends with lots of little people.

And he even met a sweet pig named Margaret.

There was lots of good food.

And we ran into old friends.  This is Jim Rice of Old Turtle Man Jewelry.  He makes gorgeous pieces, and I had the pleasure of taking a jewelry making class from him at ASU  a few years back.

I thought about several pals when we spotted this dachshund bench - Mary Jane Maffini, Alice Duncan and Tammy Coia

There were pretty little girls in pretty dresses.

And cute little boys with dogs wearing tutus.

And I had some Mountain Fairy Hair highlights added to my hair.

and watched the world go by - - - 

We were all a little tired by the time we got to the hotel.

But before too long, we were also pretty hungry.

So we hit one of our all-time favorite pizza spots

We love this hotel and it's where we always stay when we go to Asheville.  It's the Holiday Inn on Tunnel Road.  It's an older hotel.  One that remembers what guest services is all about.  And they love dogs.  It's lushly landscaped and there are wooded trails for the dogs and for the kids, with swing sets along the way.  There are bookcases full of used books scattered around the hotel - just one of the little touches to make you feel comfortable during your stay.  It's not the place for anyone wanting a luxury hotel, but it suits us to a "T."

And they serve a terrific breakfast righ here in their funky little bar/restaurant call Big Owl's.  (i know, i know - too much, right?  Wrong!  Excellent food, sourced locally).  But, yes there are a lot of owls.  But you know me - I do love owls.

Now, I may not want all those guys sitting around my house - but here, they make me smile.

After breakfast, we took a ride.

and prompty got lost.

and never did find The Bat Cave.

But.  We did find our way to one of the most wonderful camera shops I've ever been in .  

If you're a camera buff, do NOT miss Ball Photo Supply while you're in Asheville.

That was fun!

Then it was time to go back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation time.

Then time to head downtown.

First stop.  The Chocolate Fetish.  Heaven on earth.

Next up.  Malaprop's Books and Cafe, where I'm going to join some other self-published/small press writers for a reading and signing event.

Sheri Wren Haymore, Court McCracken, Malaprop's Virginia MicKinley, Sue Wasserman, and Art Ramsay

Me.

Worried that no one would show up.

But they did!  And they were delightful!

Especially Asheville peeps Sallie Bissell, Celia Miles and Nan Dillingham.  (Thanks, guys!!)

and the best husband, best friend, partner and all round sweetest man on God's green earth.  Donald Barley, who even made a video of the event.

Neither of us can ever resist taking a picture of this sculpture in front of Malaprop's.  It's one of many scattered about the city as part of the Urban Trail.  It's name is Shopping Daze.

Malaprop's

And then back to the hotel and a late night bowl of corn chowder at Big Owl's.  yum.

I think this little  fellow went to bed without us.

And now, after a good night's sleep, it's time to head home, but we can't do that without our usual stop at the Harley-Davidson place.

This little stop makes Don Barley a happy boy.

I, however, am a little less enthusiastic (especially seeing as how I am less than "camera ready")

And we happened across this little place on our way home.  All God's Creatures . . . .

Mr. Llama did not want his picture taken.

And he still did not want his picture taken

And another stop on the way home is Tom Johnson RV and Camping Center.  We love checking out campers and motor homes.  Doing some research in hopes of having one of these in our future when Donald retires.  

THIS is the one I wanted  to come home with . . . .

And now -

Home.

There's no place like home.

Right, Harley?