Lovin’ the Journey

Just Thinking Lovin’ The Journey By Mark Holloway

Spring is my favorite season. To be clear, I don’t have a least favorite season. I simply have a favorite season. I don’t hate any season. That wouldn’t be wise. Complaining about the weather doesn’t make sense. If you’ll just be patient, it’ll change soon enough. Weather fascinates me. There’s a mountain range along one of our northbound highways where the clouds pour over and down the hillside like frothy whipped cream spilling over the sides of a good cup of coffee. I’m told that local phenomenon is because of the continental divide located along Bald Mountain Road. I’ve run from Hale Ridge to Mountain City and from Betty’s Creek to Tiger and enjoyed the ‘pouring’ clouds both times. (I was training for an-all-down-hill marathon and those routes offer great descents.) Our mountains offer inches and inches of snow...not feet of snow. I’m thankful for just inches. Winter is fun but naked trees aren’t quite as beautiful. So spring is my favorite. There’s an aroma and freshness which only happens in spring. Of course it helps to be outside a lot to capture the nuance of new life flowing and sap running.

Summers here are not hot. Locals like to use the word ‘hot’. But South Georgia is hot. Florida is hot. Our beloved Northeast Georgia can be ‘mountain warm’ but never hot. We’ve been here since 2007. Not once have temperatures been in the triples. Jus’ sayin’. Last summer we had lows in the upper 50s. Carol and I love telling newbs: Rabun County, where spring spends the summer. And what can be better than boating and playing in our lakes in summer? I’ll tell ya. Hiking our trails in spring. Springtime is like reconnecting with an old friend. There’s a peacefulness to winter. But buds, blossoms and branches flowing with new hope are simply exhilarating. Autumn in these parts is like our varsity football program...clearly the big event. But Coach Dee Dee Dillard’s Lady Cats, now that’s the real show. Fall gets the headlines, but springtime is like our girls varsity basketball team. Ain’t nuthin’ better. Hmm...I didn’t set out to compare weather and high school sports. Verdant is a fine word. It captures what I really feel about this season.

When the killer tornado ripped through here a few years ago, a few springtimes eventually erased the pain and destruction. Spring reminds me of the second chance. In Christ I’m a new creation. I once was a hedonist, living simply for myself. But my worldview changed. Spring is my favorite for that reason and many others. Let’s go hike, y’all. See you on the trail.

Mark and Carol Holloway own PropertyStewards.com and are passionate about delivering excellent care to the homes and property of their clients. They are outdoor adventurers and love the thrills of rock climbing and hikes to waterfalls and exploring all of God’s creation. Mark can be reached by calling 706-490-7060.