[written 2022-05-24]
Shortly before moving to Boone, the motel, we purchased a large grey van for family vacations, saw the motel for sale on one of those trips. I knew a number of older folks at our church that drove around town but not so much on vacation as many had lost their spouse. After finding the motel I began to play with the idea of using the van
to offer small group visits to such groups since we wouldn’t be traveling often.
As we followed this idea one of our earlier groups drove their bus and visited from Parkway Baptist in Macon, GA. I don’t know that the group idea ever proved that profitable, but I had fun and made many good friends. One of our day trips usually included a stop at Shatley Springs Inn, a rambling place in Ashe County. Their outdoor decorating at that time included various bits of old farm equipment which appealed to my interests.
The late 1990’s was a tough time, mom suffered a stroke and her health declined, my wife Maxine had back surgery, son Frederick and I managed, sort of, but had to hustle faster than I could today. Early 1998 I found I needed surgery for colon cancer. I’m a chicken, it was a frightening time for sure. Maxine couldn’t leave the motel; I was really depressed that week in the hospital.
A few local friends popped in, talked to others, but several calls from Oliver from the Parkway group in Macon along with prayers and cards from others carried me through. I was just a guy running a motel where they visited but I look back on them and their words of faith as carrying through that dark time. I think I’ve lost many from that and other groups over time, but Oliver and I remain fast friends.
A number of years ago Oliver was visiting the motel and I was sharing dreams of adding old things around the outside to give that feel I had enjoyed at Shatley Springs. Oliver commented, I wish I had known, one of our members just sold an old tractor that would be ideal. A day or two later it developed that the tractor hadn’t been sold after all and would I be interested. I said sure, and being a bit of a smarty pants, replied, you gonna bring it to me. I was being silly, but Oliver and son-in-law returned with the tractor a few weeks later.
The motel, like many tiny businesses, you earn a life, more than a living, a roof over your head, maybe some groceries. Until well after retirement age I worked a weekday job and helped Maxine evening and weekends. The real riches are the folks we meet, that’s the blessing received.