Hey It's Good

I'm not a big John Denver fan, but for some reason the lyrics to one of his songs were going through my head yesterday as we arrived back in Highlands from our extended Winter Escape:

Hey, it's good to be back home again

Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend

Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again

We don't have a farm, really, but it was indeed wonderful to roll into Highlands again, which always seems especially beautiful after you've been gone for awhile:  the glory of Whiteside Mountain and its overlook, shining with icicles on the road from Cashiers, the piles of snow recumbent in the northern shadows, and Highlands' picturesque Main Street going about its business.  While Martha was going through the car wash, I popped into Bryson's to get the essentials - orange juice, eggs, milk - and the first person I saw was our neighbor, Dori, who gave me a big hug.  After being anonymous for so long, it was wonderful to be recognized and welcomed home.

So we say good-bye to the Beach (for a couple of months, anyway):

 
And hello to that familiar rakish-hat of Satulah Mountain, viewed from our deck this morning:

I headed out for a three-mile run this morning and it felt comfortable to be running on the same familiar roads I've been running on for 32 years, up the hills I have climbed countless times, cold in the shade and warm in the sunshine.  And here came Vicki down the road, just completing her own run - so nice to see a fellow runner out on this beautiful day!  And to be back home again.