Thursday, Sept 26, I was in Montreat with two incredible friends and we were wrapping up Fall Craft Week. I look forward to this week as “me time”. Sure I worked at the pottery studio this summer but it was WORK. There was no space for the creative me. This week is my self care week and I loved it as much as I knew I would. Amber had taken photography and Jamie and I took stained glass. Little did we know Amber was capturing images that may not be seen for a very long time, if ever. Jamie and I worked alongside each other crafting memories and glass pieces that tell the story of our week and more. None of us knew Fall Craft Week would bond us in trauma and, recovery and hope just 18 hours later.

Fall Craft Week wrapped up Thursday at lunch so attendees could evacuate WNC sooner rather than later. At lunch we were warned this storm would be catastrophic and historic. I was like blah blah blah. We decided to stay on, assess the damage and assuming we lost power, would lock up the house and return to Huntersville.

Jamie, Amber and I ate lunch together and our biggest concern was stalking the silent auction of crafts people brought to make sure we won the items we most wanted. Funny, I was stalking several and won several but now I can only recall 2 of them. We even snagged a pic after Amber grabbed the gorgeous print her teacher had taken in the auction. This photo tells a story we cannot begin to comprehend. Priorities can change overnight, and wow did they.

Jamie and Amber left a day early. Divine intervention. It was cold and raining so I wanted to make chili for dinner Thursday. We needed a grocery run. We stopped at Ingles and joined the crowds. I laughed with a friend I saw when we both commented we had milk and perishables. Who buys perishables with a storm coming? I do. I remember seeing someone buying water and I asked Johnny if we should get water. He reminded me we were city water. “We never lose water.”

I went home and prepared the most monstrous pot of chili ever. That’s the only way I know to make it. Side note… if there is ANY chance you may lose the ability to flush toilets, as remotely as it seems, or as far fetched as it seems, do NOT, under any circumstances prepare chili and think it’s a good idea to eat for 3 days straight. Yes, we ate chili for dinner three days straight and we lost all flushing water the very next day. Interpret as you wish.

I did think it was wise to wise all my laundry from stained glass making as it was likely laden with glass and I made sure I knew where one flashlight was. That was the extent of my storm prep. Bacon, eggs, chili and one flashlight. Oh, and I put my phone on charge earlier than usual and I crawled into bed.

Thursday was really fairly textbook… until I woke up at 6 am Friday morning.

© Gatewood Campbell, October 2024