Heading to the Biltmore House

In the late 60's and early 70’s I lived in Asheville and the surrounding area including Barnardsville and Big Sandy Mush. It was an interesting time. Asheville was changing. Half of the population only lived there in the summer. I attended Asheville Biltmore College and was there when it became UNC Asheville. Asheville was changing.

I lived there on and off for about seven years. The last year I rented a geodesic dome on the top of a mountain and apprenticed an up and coming furniture maker. His shop was not heated or air conditioned and it was very cold on those winter mornings.

During my whole time there I never visited the Biltmore House though I had many opportunities. I’m finally going there some 50 years later. It is a joyous occasion. I’m joining four of my former workmates and three of their spouses at a conference. The industry holding the conference is one I worked with for almost twenty years so I will know many others at the conference.

I can only stay one day and night because my first obligation these days is minding Oscar, my nearly two year old Great Dane. He is already pacing the floor because I packed my suitcase this morning. He knows!

Because I traveled almost every week for 35 years, my best friends have always been my workmates. I’m so lucky that they invited me to join them this week.