The above photo was taken 17 miles north of the Piedmont Triad Airport, just of of Highway 220. It is probably just north of the Guilford County Line. This is the road where Camp Carefree is located. Camp Carefree is an organization that provides one-week camping experiences for chronically ill children. It was started in 1986 and brings in teams of health care professionals from the Triad and Triangle to manage the treatment, medicines, and general health care needs of camp participants.

As we drove down the road, on the first day of spring, in spite of the cold weather, we could not help thinking about how beautiful it must seem to families that have had been surrounded by pain and illness, in and out of doctors’ offices. The camp comes by its name honestly, Camp Carefree. Due to generous donations of individuals, churches, civic organizations, and medical personnel, Camp Carefree is  debt free. A heartfelt thank for everyone who helps keep us this road solvent and paved with happiness. 

Today, we share this literary excerpt. Barbara Kingsolver in The Lacuna (p. 457) is describing the protagonist’s drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, just outside of Asheville, NC. It reminds us, however, of the above photo and the more rural parts of Greensboro at this time of year. We’re a couple of weeks ahead of the mountains of NC, with respect to spring rolling in. ” (T)he April trees lit up with pale green flames… [Car] Windows wide open, the full breath of spring of dirt of new life stirring in the breast of whatever was left for dead, all that rushed at us now.”  Indeed, this time of year feels like breath, new life, and trees lit up with pale green flames. Happy spring!