CHRIS ARVIDSON

Below is an essay I've submitted to the New River Writers in Blacksburg who are mounting an exhibit of photos and the writing they inspire. The photo to the right of this post is the photo I have written about below:

Under the Bridges
Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The morning started out refreshingly cool; a quick little shower had wet the pavement and then moved on. Beside the road, we found a small parking lot, the ubiquitous brown wooden government issue sign denoting the place to put in your boats. Claytor Lake Dam loomed industrially in the background. (more…)

The snowiest February comes to an end in the next few days and I have mixed feelings about it. In general, I enjoy the winter storm warnings and the cold doesn't bother me -- I just get out the "Michigan" clothes and I'm set to go. And, unlike Michigan, at least the Traverse City-area I'm most familiar with, we do get a fair amount of sun popping out between the snow squalls here; sometimes it's snowing and sunny at the same time in the NC mountains. (more…)

And the sun came out and sparkled through the trees this morning. It was so outstanding I put on my coat and boots over my pajamas this morning to take the photos at right.

I'm up this morning waiting for the dawn to break over Mt. Jefferson, but it's only going to be a brightening, rather than a dawn. Snow is falling heavily; my eyes are peeled for the flakes to turn into icy blobs, but it hasn't happened yet. (more…)

Back in the early 90s, the region was struck with a once-every-100-year snowstorm. Its intensity and strength were unexpected. Elizabeth, who was about 10 at the time, Henry and I headed out of Charlotte on a Friday afternoon for a weekend getaway in Blowing Rock, a resort town a couple of hours away from Charlotte. While we expected to see a few flakes of snow, and that's why we went up there, it was March and no one, I mean no one, predicted the couple feet of snow that fell. (more…)

It's January. It's raining and in the 40s - my very least favorite winter weather of all. Give me snow any time.

The pipes broke at the cabin. When Henry opened the garage door, water poured out. The garage and part of the basement are wet and soggy. Fortunately, there wasn't much damage to (more…)

The crap cold of the century culminated in a whopper of a sinus infection, so this past week has gone by in a haze of tissues and worthless over-the-counter meds. Yesterday's visit to the doctor got me the good stuff and so I am feeling almost human today. Thank god for Henry who made chicken soup (twice!) and took such good care of me.

I learned two very important things to pass along, though. First off, the person who thought up putting lotion in tissues is GOD - GOD I tell you! (more…)

A bunch of us women who used to work together at Habitat for Humanity Charlotte got together for a Christmas lunch at Mary Nell's house. What fun! We got caught up on each other and our families, shared info on those who couldn't be with us, and made plans, too. First off, we're going to be sure and do a lunch at least once a year, AND, all of us who can are going to go with the Habitat Charlotte crew to El Salvador in February 2011. (Fair warning to Ana Maria, Kendal, Patty, etc. in El Salvador!) Several of us went in 2007 and it was a great trip we want to share with more great Habitat Charlotte women. (see Photo Essays tab on this site for pictures from that trip)

Broke out Michigan winter clothes this morning - even gaiters. I found Henry's snow boots in the bag with the snow shoes and poles. A hike around town, while it was snowing this morning, was Christmassy to the maximum. In fact, I think they should change the name of this town to Christmastown or (more…)

My Henry made his way to Beckley, WV, yesterday morning. He and Ben and Carol from National Committee for the New River went to close on the largest ever conservation easement (1400 acres!) for NCNR, and our first in West Virginia. They made it back to beat the main part of the snowstorm, although they (more…)