Curveballs and Candlelight: When Plans Go Sideways...Adventures Simply Adjust!
- Pam Buchholz
- Nov 6
- 8 min read
Life doesn't always follow the script we write - sometimes it adds plot twists we never saw coming. How do you adapt when the universe rewrites your story? For me, it usually means finding creative ways to keep moving forward... even if it's with a hobble!
When I left you last time, I mentioned that I'd landed this awesome little position at The Tryon International Equestrian Center - it was a dream gig for a horse lover like me, as an Awards Associate. Basically, I get to watch show jumping and then present prizes to the winners of the competitions - I honestly couldn't believe this was an actual paid job! What could possibly be more fun, right?
All was going swimmingly well until life decided to throw one of those infamous curveballs it seems to enjoy lobbing at us when we least expect it. Picture this: I'm diligently making sure to avoid horses and speeding golf carts (because that seemed like the obvious hazards), when I completely failed to notice a drop in the walkway. Over went my ankle, and down went I!
Fast forward a couple of hours, and a radiologist was confirming what my screaming ankle had already told me - I'd fractured my lower fibula. There I was, getting a cast put on and being told I'd be sidelined for six weeks. Six weeks! For someone whose middle name might as well be "Restless," this was not exactly welcome news.
Fortunately, a week later the cast was removed, and I was granted the dubious privilege of wearing "the boot"- not exactly the daintiest or most attractive of accoutrements, but I was sincerely thankful to be off those crutches and allowed to hobble around unaided!
As is so often the case with me…I got a tad too enthusiastic about my newfound freedom and tried to carry on as usual (despite the many warnings from John!) . And as you can probably guess, that didn't work out particularly well. The pain came roaring back, and it was time for me to actually take it easy and stay off my healing ankle as much as possible.
This was particularly frustrating timing, as two large moving trucks had just delivered all our possessions from the Outer Banks, transforming our peaceful little haven into what can only be described as "Boxland." And here we thought we'd already downsized! Hmm, me thinks we've still got considerable work to do on that front (I’m starting to think the word “minimalism” might not be in our vocabulary.)
Here's the thing though – having a broken ankle doesn't stop us from having adventures. They just need to be a little more carefully planned than usual! A day's drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway had been sitting at the top of my To-Do List, and I wasn't about to let a fractured fibula get in the way of experiencing fall in the mountains.
We decided in advance to head south on the Parkway, as quite a few northern sections are still closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene. Our goal? To reach the highest point on the Parkway at 6,053 feet! So, with mugs of steaming coffee, warm sweatshirts (including Bodie, who absolutely loves wearing his blue hoodie), plenty of snacks, and a couple of cozy blankets (it was definitely getting chillier at those elevations!), we set off early to Asheville where we'd join the Parkway.
Blue Ridge Perfection
A quick pit stop at the visitor center heralded the start of our Blue Ridge Parkway adventure, and honestly, "Wow" is probably the best way to describe this drive. It was absolutely incredible - climbing ever higher on those beautifully winding roads, passing through forests ablaze with fall colors, driving through darkened tunnels carved straight through mountainsides, navigating steep drop-offs that would take your breath away, and encountering vistas that were simply stunning! Every time I thought I'd captured the most amazing photograph, another breathtaking scene would present itself.
There are so many overlook points where you can pull off the road, park up, and take a stroll (or in my case, a hobble) to snap photos or just spend a few precious moments acknowledging the natural beauty and absolute awesomeness of the sights before you.
Mountain Meditation
For me, standing before the vastness and raw beauty of these mountain scenes brought the same feelings of bliss, thankfulness, peace, and serenity that watching the ocean on Hatteras always brought me. Both the mountains and the ocean are awesome reminders of how nature's creations are far more magnificent, powerful, and unique than anything mankind could ever hope to create.
To witness this kind of raw, majestic, enigmatic beauty is truly humbling - it always allows me to put my life back into proper perspective and be fully present in these incredibly precious moments. The world seems to stand still, and I become so aware of every wonderful second, every beautiful element of nature that I'm immersed in. It's like the universe whispers "stop and simply breathe.....life can be so beautiful."
Through tunnels we drove, winding ever higher into the mountains. (Now, John - having lived a large part of his life in Colorado, loves to point out that these are "little mountains" compared to the Rockies, but I happen to think the mountains of Western North Carolina are every bit as majestic and beautiful as any I've ever seen. And having traveled rather extensively around the world, I think I'm allowed to have that opinion!)
You see to me, it doesn't matter one bit what the actual height of any particular mountain range is. What matters are the unique geologic and topological characters that each one possesses. Like my beloved ocean, where no two waves are ever identical, there are no two peaks, valleys, or gorges that are exactly the same. Each mountain scene is singularly unique and beautiful in its own magnificent way.
On reaching our planned destination - that highest point, we did the obligatory photograph at the sign (because if you don't document it, did it really happen?), then began our descent, which was in every way just as spectacular as the drive up.
The Descent and a Waterfall Surprise
Instead of staying on the Parkway all the way back to Asheville, we took Highway 276 and began a rather steep and wonderfully winding descent. This road was absolutely awesome!
The fall foliage was at peak perfection, and our drive took us alongside the prettiest river - Looking Glass Creek, which led us straight to Looking Glass Falls.
The fantastic thing about these falls, apart from their incredible beauty, was that you could park right alongside them! Unlike so many other waterfalls that require lengthy hikes to reach (which with a broken ankle would have been more than a tad impossible), these I could actually get close to. There were steps down to the base of the falls that John gamely descended, but I managed to capture some gorgeous photos just from the roadside viewing area.
The great thing about living where we do now is that it wasn’t long before we were back to our cozy little home! I can hardly wait to do this drive again... there may not be the magnificent fall colors next time, but I know that incredible scenery will still take my breath away, no matter the season!
So, what else have we been up to? For my horsey friends out there, although I may be sidelined from my Awards Associate duties for now, that certainly doesn't stop me from sitting ringside with a mug of hot coffee and watching some phenomenal show jumping - and as always, TIEC has delivered some spectacular performances! They have even had a couple of drone shows at the night-time events!
Discovering Our Go-To Spots
Although John and I absolutely love discovering new places to eat, it's equally fun to find those special spots that start to become your go-to favorites when you fancy a bite. Living in a rural area, we're incredibly lucky to have TIEC just minutes from our front door with its amazing array of restaurants - Legends Grill, La Campagna, The Silver Spoon Saloon, Gertie Mae's, Taco Mundo, and Roger's Diner.
But we're just as happy to jump in the Jeep and explore the surrounding towns. One little town we've come to absolutely love visiting is Saluda, where this past weekend we headed to Eddy's Tap Room and Grill for a tasty bowl of chilli - Sitting in the little bar watching college football, it was the perfect way to end a perfect autumn afternoon!
The Great Skunk Incident
Now, I must tell you about Bodie's latest adventure. Unfortunately for all of us, our intrepid adventure pup decided to chase "something" in the darkness at 5:30 AM one morning. And yes, that "something" turned out to be a skunk! The de-skunking of the dog was decidedly not how we'd planned on starting that particular day. Luckily though, it wasn't a full-on direct hit, and we've managed to eliminate most of that awful smell... although every now and again, I swear I catch a whiff of that nasty little creature. Poor Bodie learned an important lesson that morning….well at least we hope!
Halloween Magic in Asheville
For Halloween, I managed to snag tickets to see the Opal String Quartet perform Halloween classics by candlelight up in Asheville - it was absolutely phenomenal! From famous classical pieces like Saint-Saëns' "Danse Macabre" and Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain" to movie classics like the "Halloween" theme, "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a medley from "The Nightmare Before Christmas," this ensemble was utterly fantastic! The intimate candlelit setting made it even more magical and atmospheric. It was the perfect way to celebrate the spooky season!
Finally, before I go, a quick but exciting update on my project - my book is finished! Editing and formatting are complete, and it's now getting tantalizingly close to being ready to publish. I still can't quite believe I've actually written a book... and the best part? It's not just a book - it's evolved into so much more than I ever imagined!
I have to say, working on this project in my newly created Sanctuary has been absolutely wonderful. My little carriage house office is still very much a work in progress, as finding time to devote to perfecting my haven isn't always easy. But maybe that's exactly how my Sanctuary should be – always evolving…..a bit like me! 😊
Well, it's time to wrap these musings and meanderings up - there are so many more adventures to be had! I've got another three weeks left with "the boot," and then hopefully I'll get the all-clear to return to normal activities.
Although, "normal"... isn't that just a setting on the dryer? I don't think either my life nor I have ever been accurately described as normal, and honestly, I'm not sure I’d have it any other way!
Despite the broken ankle, this past month has been filled with beauty, discovery, a few mishaps (sorry, Bodie!), and so many wonderful moments that remind me why living with a restless spirit is such a gift. Sometimes our adventures choose us rather than the other way around - and that's perfectly fine by me.
So, keep chasing those sunrises….. and remember - even when life throws you a curveball (or a fractured fibula), there's always another adventure waiting just around the bend!
With love from my tree-wrapped Sanctuary (and slightly elevated ankle),
Pam, John & Bodie 💕
PS. November is shaping up to be a Road-Trip Adventure month....more on those adventures to come soon!