It felt like Asheville flipped last week. All of a sudden, the town was packed with “leaf lookers”, the morning school commute became a little darker and much colder, and the fall colors became more vibrant than ever! I hustled into our West Asheville shop that morning and grabbed a coffee from Bad Manners Coffee (located inside Provisions Mercantile - West Asheville Shop). As I sipped that first luxurious sip of coffee, I hurried to the next task on my to-do list.

I always enjoy the stillness of the shop before we open in the mornings. I also get a lot accomplished during this golden hour. On this crisp morning, a couple happened in for coffee, and I overheard their discussion about the fall foliage. This couple had moved to Asheville from Florida this past Spring. They had six months under their belt and were beginning to feel a bit like locals. And then, the leaves began to change.

Everyone in the lower 48 knows that Asheville is a destination for the incredible beauty that unfolds when our mountain landscape shows off her vibrant colors. What I didn’t expect is how hilariously aggravated this couple was to see this spectacular show in person. They were taken aback by the beauty and truly frustrated that they had not experienced this majestic beauty in person before. As they ordered coffee, they were arguing about which trees were the most beautiful and vibrant and why they felt shafted for not ever getting to experience this hidden masterpiece annually!

I shared a few laughs with them and then continued to meander with the tasks that I had at hand. As I replayed their discussion, I was struck by how much I have taken the fall leaf season in WNC for granted. Don’t get me wrong, I notice it, briefly appreciate it, and then quickly move on. I’m embarrassed to say, I have a failure to truly appreciate the fall beauty and stay present in the moment. It truly is breathtaking.

My question to you is, what are you taking for granted because it has become part of your mundane routine? Take a jog, take a walk, or take a drive and just let the beauty of our surrounding topography lure you back in. Feel free to end that jog, walk, or drive at one of our shops and let’s laugh about what we’ve been missing!

Cheers!

Matt