Monday, January 5, 2026

Nine Brazilians and a Corgi

Twas the day before Christmas. Yes I'm finally writing about that day.

Warm weather, about 70 I'd guess by 3:30 and I just had to go somewhere.

Maybe walk around Lake Tomahawk? But as I drove to the turn off to the lake, 5 other cars took that turn. Nope, I didn't feel like dealing with a busy lake and parking lot. So I stayed straight, going to Black Mountain proper.

It was deserted almost. I noticed the parking was aplenty, and a few tourists were walking along the sidewalks. My friend Sarah Vekasi had her pottery shop open and I parked in front of it. I walked easily across US 70 (State St.) to Kilwins, a chain unfortunately, but it has two things worth my patronage. Ice cream and fudge. I told my patient clerk I was glad she was working today, but I was also sorry she was working today. She confessed to looking forward to 5 pm when she'd go home to a loan soak in a hot bath.

I noticed a whole bunch of people standing near Sarah's shop, but they were focused mainly on themselves.

Once I decided on which ice cream (Butter Pecan) and fudge (dark chocolate walnut) and paid my way, I sat down outside in shirt-sleeves to watch the world go by. And a big bus from the women's prison did go by, with women pounding on the grilled windows and shouting happy Christmas as they drove by.

Some nice furry friends stopped to say hi.

And then the Brazilians sat down on the remaining spots on benches.

Nine of them. They looked at their phones mostly. I did ask where they were from, it being a southern thing and they were obviously tourists! Brazil! Well, I said, you missed out on getting cold weather this year!

What was striking about them was not the global phone thing, but their body language. They just sprawled all over the sidewalk area. People walking by had to detour out into the street. Not just one, but everyone! There was a kind of ignorance that anyone else needed to use that space. Maybe an urban thing...maybe South American. But it was obvious to me. Welcome to Black Mountain, and just take over!

They were obviously visiting someone here...I thought. Maybe that was who went inside Kilwins.

And after I finished my ice cream and no conversation...I crossed the street, read the menu on the new restaurant "Tuscan Table" and took photos of their exterior.