Hurricane Relief

Welcome Sign at Mountain Springs Cabins

A small hurricane arrived on the mountain very early Monday morning in the form of seven travel-weary young adults and their 3 lively children--4 and 2 years and 4 months. We were expecting them as they had called earlier inquiring about an opening in one of our cabins. They told us every place they called was already booked with others escaping the furies of the storm. The Labor Day holiday made it especially difficult to find an available hotel room or cabin. There was no room at the inn here either, but we told them to come up anyway, and we would find them a place.

They traveled in the dark, a caravan of two vehicles on unfamiliar roads, up and down and around endless mountains so different from their flat delta homeland. They pulled in to our drive just before daybreak. We had prepared all guest beds, and inflated air mattresses in anticipation. Bleary-eyed and disheveled, they quickly spread out all over the house from loft to basement. Then all was quiet for a couple of hours. Jack and I sat on the porch with our coffee watching the sunrise--a brilliant red sky. Red sky at morning, sailors take warning. Red sky at night, sailors delight.

Our Texas guests from Eagle's Rest Cabin were off early the next day, so we were able to get our group settled in their own cabin by mid-morning. But only after we had fed the babies, consumed a couple of pots of coffee, and made real introductions all around.

Three 3 siblings, their spouses and their babies, and a cousin--well-mannered, self-confident, and with those gracious southern manners, a result of being raised in the south--where everyone older than you are is addressed as "Miss" or "Mr" preceding your first name. Their soft, southern Louisiana/ Cajun' dialect brought back memories and added to their charm. We accepted their invitation to supper last night--wonderful meal prepared in the confines of the small cabin. We were drawn right in as a part of the family--almost literally. Without our prompting, the children began calling us "Uncle Jack" and "Aunt Camille"! (It's a "southern thing"-- we know from living in South Arkansas most of our lives.)

They came as our guests, they will leave as our friends. And we are reminded as to why we love our job as cabin hosts.

May God bless them as they make their way home today!

Up-Hill

Does the road wind up-hill all the way?

Yes, to the very end.

Will the day's journey take the whole long day?

From morn to night, my friend...

Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?

Of labour you shall find the sum.

Will there be beds for me and all who seek?

Yea, beds for all who come.

Christina Rossetti