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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Communication Breakdown (12/16/10)
Two hundred families lived in Mountain Ridge and all during the Spring, Summer and Fall tourist swarmed their quaint little community. The tourists said that Mountain Ridge was a little piece of heaven here on earth, because
the people were warm, kind, gentle, loving and made everybody that visited welcome. Near the middle of town were several churches and around those churches were stores, with all kinds of homemade wares. The hotels were always full with visitors during the warm months. There was a cozy post office and several restaurants with food fit for a king. Their quilts were master pieces and worth every penny one paid. Mountain Ridge was a place people were drawn to.

During the Spring the air smelled crisp, clean and fresh as mother nature awakened for the renewing of the forests and gardens of all kind. In the Summer there were summer breezes that sent the smell throughout Mountain Ridge of all kinds of flowers in peoples gardens. The Fall when the trees turned a myriad of colors were truly a sight to see, but when winter came Mountain Ridge was once again a quiet peaceful community with all the technologies of Cumber Falls with far less people.

The families of Mountain Ridge that lived higher up were use to being snowbound from October to late May, and were always prepared for the long winter months, but for the most part Mountain Ridge managed to travel to and from Cumber Falls year round. They had horses with big sleds and when winter hit you would see the people from Mountain Ridge using there usual mode of transportation. Their sleighs were always decked out with bells and painted with the most gorgeous designs on them. They were always a delight to the people who lived in Cumber Falls when they came to town.

That year the people of Mountain Ridge were bracing themselves for a long hard winter. There was a northeasterner coming through and that meant more snow then usual. It was the middle of October when the winds blew and the temperatures dropped like a rock. It started snowing with a vengeance and before long all communication were cut off, and the people of Mountain Ridge were alone for the first time in 5 years. No phones, no TV, no computers and no lights. It was as if time has stood still and the people were once again back in the 18th century. Not to worry though for the people of Mountain Ridge had their root cellars filled to overflowing with all kinds of preserves, vegetables and dried meats, enough to last until well into the Spring.

When the winter cut Mountain Ridge off from the rest of the world that’s when something magical happened. The people thrived and became closer then most families in any other part of the world. They didn’t need all the modern technologies of the world although they were nice. They each worked together clearing streets, walk ways to and from each house and the people of Mountain Ridge carried on as if nothing had happened. The churches were filled every Sunday and Christmas was a sight to behold. The pageantry was spectacular and some of the people went from house to house caroling, but that was hidden from the rest of the world.

Of course come Spring after everybody had been cut off from the rest of the world the young couples were blessed with additions to their households. Some of the younger people moved away from Mountain Ridge, but when it was time to retire they always returned to their home. Mountain Ridge was a place where God was King and the people had a love that baffled visitors. That is why all during the warmer months Mountain Ridge went from 2 hundred people to several thousand people. The rest of the world longed for a place to live with the peace, joy, understanding and love that permeated Mountain Ridge. It was a place that seemed magical to most, but to the residents of Mountain Ridge, well, this was their home away from their permanent home above.
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This article has been read 933 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Nancy Sullivan 
12/23/10
This sounds like a place I would love to visit - especially in the winter. Nice descriptive writing.
Fern Brown
12/23/10
Sweet story. God bless you in your writing for Him and have a Merry Christmas.
Brenda Rice
12/26/10
This is a very interesting story and a wonderful place. I noticed a few mistakes, but I liked the idea of the story. Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas.
Michael Throne
12/26/10
Good description of the character and feel of Mountain Ridge. So many people want that feeling, but without the effort or responsibility.

I enjoyed the story.
diana kay
12/27/10
a lovely story about a lovely place.... is it a real place i wonder as it seems almost too good to be true.It is interesting that communication problems with the "outside world" can make people more reliant on the local relationships...
could of course go either way... reminds me a little of a radio programme I have just been listening too about some of the ice stations at the poles
Leola Ogle
12/28/10
Your story would make an enjoyable movie! Very sweet!
Sarah Heywood
12/29/10
Mountain Ridge sounds like an enchanted place! I especially love your comment about all the "new additions" that would be on the way after the long winter - cute!

Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
12/30/10
It sounds like a lovely place to live. I think it might be great for many communities to be cut off from the rest of the world.