black mamba

This is sort of a sad story...but one with a happy ending. When I got my first mountain place, near Boone, N.C.,
I used to pass by an old homestead every day I was up there. There was a small barn right up by the road and an old home tucked into the woods behind the barn. I stopped by the place one day because the owner had some firewood for sale out by the barn. Over time, we became friends. I'd always stop and chat with him if I saw out on his property. I found out that he named his barn " Henry ". So he became " Henry " to me as well. Henry was showing some age but here was not a loose board to be seen. But the ensuing years of heavy snow fall and wicked ice storms took their toll on Henry. He was fading fast. One day, I asked a favor of the old man. I told him that there was a part of Henry that I would love to have when his time was up. He said he would do that for me.

The first shot here shows Henry in his last days. The second shot shows Henry about to collapse. A few days later, the old man called me and said Henry was gone. But that he and Henry wanted me to have something, and he presented to me the part of Henry that he said he would. There was a lot of emotion in his face....hell, I damn near cried.

But in honor to Henry, that part of him is prominently displayed in my man cave and will be there as long as I'm alive. It is the top half of a swinging door to the front of Henry. It is shown in the third shot.

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NMGal Loc: NE NM

Poor old Henry.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Nice photos!! I love that you have a very important piece of Henry.

Dodie

MSW

nice photos. i would like to hope that Henry will be remembered as a piece of a quieter and less complicated time.

RodeoMan Loc: St Joseph, Missouri

Nice story and images. When I first saw your title, I thought it would be about O Henry (William Sydney Porter) who incidently is interred at Ashville.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Great set!!!

Tdearing Loc: Rockport, TX

Good end to unfortunate story

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

ELNikkor

Great shots, story, and appropriate memento!

black mamba

I miss them both. The old man died less than a year later.

Tom

black mamba

You know, it does mean a lot to me. As I've gotten older, I've become much more sentimental about some things. I guess we all do.

Tom

black mamba

Thanks.

I first met Henry over 30 years ago. Things were certainly one heck of a lot quieter and less complicated then.

Tom

black mamba

Thanks for the visit and compliment.

Tom

black mamba

Thank you. I value your support.

Tom

black mamba

Yea. As time goes on, the sadness fades and the good memories stay with you.

Thanks for looking in.

Tom