The Necklace

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  “SHE WAS one of those pretty, charming young ladies, born, as if through an error of destiny, into a family of clerks. She had no dowry, no hopes, no means of becoming known, appreciated, loved, and married by a man either rich or distinguished; and she allowed herself to marry a petty clerk in the office of the Board of Education. . . .  She had neither frocks nor jewels, nothing. And she loved only those things. She felt that she was made for them. She had such a desire to please, to be sought after, to be clever, and courted.” —THE NECKLACE Guy de Maupassant    France, 1884 (pic by Grok) Read this short story here:  https://americanliterature.com/author/guy-de-maupassant/short-story/the-necklace

Black Crest Trail

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The U.S. Forest Service calls the Black Crest Trail the most rugged trail in the Eastern United States (map). We ascended this North Carolina trail from Bolen's Creek to Mount Mitchell in two days, summiting 10 peaks culminating in a total altitude change of 3,485 feet across 15 miles. This was the pinnacle experience of our lives, taking everything we had to give physically, mentally, emotionally--and the spiritual impact was not lacking. Makes me wonder "what's next?" Please enjoy our video below, or click on this direct link.


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