Confident that I would make it to my intended destination, I wandered with determination, faith and God’s grace into the darkness and discovered God’s hands reaching out to me time and time again.
Grateful am I to know a loving God. Jesus has always been beside me and his Mother, Mary has never failed to comfort and assist me when I felt lost or fearful. Her prayers joined my own and I felt heard, understood and able to relax into the next venture.
Presently, unemployed, I find myself at one of life’s crossroads, and I wait patiently until the fog lifts and the direction is clear.
Grateful for sight, hearing, touch, ability to walk and lose myself in nature and occasionally my sense of smell. These gifts went unnoticed when I was little and now, I thank God for all of them.
May Peace and Gratitude fill your Heart today and always.
One Year Mark – post-Hurricane Helene whose name means ‘Torch’
I survived, my family survived.
Our town did not and has not fully recovered. It will be decades for the towns to return.
So many lives were lost, the numbers are still not clear.
The French Broad River claimed many lives – the water is still thought to be unsafe due to the ever-changing levels of E. coli. What’s murmured but not reported is the bodies and bones of those unknown and unnamed that are still at the bottom of the river, tangled in the branches and undergrowth.
Shock and Post Traumatic Stress still creep up as I, and many others attempt to continue with life without Friends, Family, Doctors, Homes, Jobs, Mountains, and Trees.
The Trees appear to be in shock as Spring ends and Autumn turns to Fall in the Western North Carolina Mountains. The leaves are turning brown and dropping to the ground. They are stressed, like us.
Many today are celebrating and remembering those lost and those who have survived this day, the 27th of September 2025.
I continue to stop periodically to remember to breathe. Holding my breath now, I remember my doctor and friend, Quinn, whom I and many others mourn her absence after she gave her life in service to others in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Many lost their lives
Many lost their homes
Many lost their businesses
Many broken bones
Trees laid down their lives, rescue workers too
Heal dear Asheville, Swannanoa, Burnsville, Marshall, Black Mountain, too
Father, gather us here, those left, in your arms, help us to restore what’s left, to comfort those who are left to remember and commune respectfully to each other and the land you have given to us to steward, so rich and full of life, color, and surprises,
May we never forget.
~ Anita 9/27/2025
This photo of the Autumn Colours was taken years ago…. I hope we see these colours next year! #RememberingAutumnSplendor
Grief has arrived and with it every day and night is different
Someone I loved has left this earth, this one was my ‘Momma’ – the Matriarch – the Queen Bee
She left peacefully, surrounded by those closest to her that loved her completely
Music played in the her bedroom – familiar songs of ‘Mack the Knife’ ‘Moon River’ and more – songs she danced to just a few months ago
She became young again before our eyes – her complexion was radiant – not a wrinkle in sight – eyes closed, Dad said she looks likes she’s 40 years old
the Minutes, Hours, Days and now, Weeks that she’s been Gone from Our Sight have been filled with Memories, Conversations, Disbelief and questions of What now?
I communicate not only through my thoughts with her, but in writing, I don’t believe I’ve been able to still my mind enough to connect with God, yet, I have had chats with my Mom. Perhaps she is the conduit, the Angel who is here to share with me more before her voice’s whisper is also heard less and less?
In my minds’ eye, I see Momma in Heaven – gloriously radiant, dressed in a long white gown with gold light surrounding her as she now adjusts to her new environment in Heaven. She’s dancing with her daughter, my sister, Roxane, other friends and relatives effortlessly and joyfully. She’s home. Knowing that she is joyful and at peace, gives me a peaceful feeling that she is truly home.
Momma and I (2023)
Rest in Peace Momma – Ama tua figlia (Love your daughter)
A path in the woods to listen to the silence and inhale the fragrance of the pines and hemlocks, squeeze the oaks, poplars and beech trees, and breathe gratitude for the oxygen they give to all so selflessly.
By the River floating sticks under bridges and looking through the clear water to the jewels of stones glimmering in the sun’s warmth!
In the Garden to walk among the tulips, daffodils, roses and other friends, breathing in their fragrance and letting it intoxicate me into a smile.
On top of the Mountain after a long winding hike under the canopy of the pines, hemlock, maples, poplar and dogwoods until a stone clearing presents itself with a view of the valley below or the clouds above with a blue sky and mountain ridges as long as the eye can see until my heart feels their gifts.
Walk along the seashore in search of seashells, sounds from the surf, a feeling from the wind and the warmth of the sun.
Clouds carry me gently into the Heart of the Creator one minute, one day at a time.
Yesterday we had a beautiful surprise of snowfall, flakes large enough to catch on my tongue – a moment of Joy during a time of intense grieving
Hurricane Helene left her mark on our beautiful community of Asheville NC and surrounding areas, homes, businesses, lives, trees, trails, the devastation is so glaring especially to those of us who grew up here in what was a very safe, serene and beautiful oasis. It’s been almost two months since the storm hit. September 26th ! No one was prepared. No power, no cell phones, and days later no water for over a month! Water was resumed on the 18th of September. It was deemed safe enough to shower in and consume. For me, and I think for many others, the water does not taste safe. I will continue to drink bottled or spring water and to cook with these instead of consuming them.
The day after the Water was deemed safe, my heart while not keeping up with the grief, exploded into sobs which turned into physical heaving and a need to reach out to someone to share this grief. God, in his infinite wisdom, gave me the courage to contact a friend, who was just the person to let me process some of this grief in the form of tears. I imagine it will take some time before we are able to process all of it and before we feel truly safe again in our homes from the next wind or torrential rain event.
Four Season Girl
Spring is a happy time that beckons all to plant, explore, enjoy the outdoors and the color of green is all around us dotted with flowers in every shade and the birds as they find their way back to our feeders, baths and ponds
Summer is a time for travel, vacation, cleaning out the excess visit the beaches for a swim and shell seeking OR float down the French Broad River in a canoe or kayak quietly and enjoy its ebb and flow while looking for the Eagle, Herron or Egret (please NO tubing with boom boxes and beer – it’s disturbing to those of us who love the serenity floating down the river brings.)
Autumn is a time to walk the trails and mountains and absorb the last explosion of colors red, orange, yellow and greens in all the trees that one can see on any given day
Winter a time to slow down and look inward – bake, bask in the shorter days and rest more while still awaiting for a much desired snowfall and its silence and cleanliness as it blankets the trees and eventually the ground as if it to clean the air, the trees and the earth
Spring – White Trillium- Photo: Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Summer – Mountain Stream – Photo by Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Autumn – Japanese Maple Tree in all the Beautiful Colours by Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Winter – This photo was taken of the last REAL snowfall in 2022 – Crisp, White, Blanket of Snow 5″ deep or more. It’s silence is an invitation to be quiet and enjoy or play if you wish. Photo: Anita Adams, NCTreesPhotography.com
Grief and Joy One couldn’t exist without the other As we all move forward into the Holy Days (Holidays) Smile more to the Stranger Look into the Eyes of those we meet and live with it every day Don’t forget to say I love you to those you love Hug a Tree and squeeze it again for me. ~Anita
Called to Write 