The Devil’s Tramping Ground
Help! Says she, looking to the heavens for inspiration and finding none. What might someone (as in this particular someone) write about when there doesn’t seem to be much capturing her attention? Boring folks, or myself, is definitely not an attraction. My tender ego, and readers’ attention spans, would suffer, neither of which are kosher.
Stop the presses! Here’s a thought to consider! The legendary Devil’s Tramping Ground in Chatham County, NC, where I put down roots 21 years ago.
You’re kidding, right? About the Devil’s Tramping Ground?
No, not kidding. It’s a real thing (especially to said devil.)
OK, guess I’ll bite on that. But really, the Devil’s Tramping Ground? Will you next tell me that Bigfoot lives there? No, no, Bigfoot resides in McDowell County, NC. Don’t want to steal McDowell’s thunder (or whatever.)
Returning to the Devil’s Tramping Ground. Put your feet up and set a spell (for a slice of magic waiting to unfold.)
“In the low, rolling hills of southern Chatham County, lies one of the most famous haunted places in North Carolina. The Devil's Tramping Ground is a mysterious clearing in the woods where nothing grows and if anything is placed on the circle, it will be moved by the next morning. Chatham natives say that the Devil goes there to walk in circles as he thinks up new means of causing trouble for humanity.”
Alright! Just the ticket to counter my boredom and, hopefully, capture the attention of you folks reading this piece. It’s, clearly, one “devil” of a topic! (Please forgive me, I just couldn’t resist.) And the Devil’s Tramping Ground also delivers a bit of magic. I don’t know that I’ve actually expressed how taken I am with the apparent existence of magic.
Taken? With magic?
You bet! My preferred form of magic is that in which our current reality appears suspended, even if ever-so briefly. And wonder pops into the picture. Of course, another explanation might be that I’m easily taken for a ride. But, no, let’s go with the more charitable perception of trying to find wonder wherever I can.
The mention of wonder sends me spiraling back to my childhood. It’s dusk and little sparks appear to be rising from our lawns. Everything stops. Only the magic of those little sparks of light, randomly drifting up from the grass. Time seems to stand still. The world is in soft focus. And, suddenly, I hear my mother calling me in for dinner. Almost as if shaking my head to plop back into reality, I run inside. The magical moment evaporates, but a slice of that wonder remains with me, even now, light years later. (As do fireflies.)
And, yes, experiences like this bolster my love of (apparent) magic. The brief suspension of momentary reality and a passage into wonder. No drugs, alcohol, grass, pills, Dr. Pepper, or even dark chocolate. Just consider the mention of the term, Devil’s Tramping Ground. In that momentary naming, does time pause for you? And even though you may be looking straight ahead, does your view of the world suddenly move into soft focus as the name conjures up wonder and, possibly, a rich interlude in that moment? Hey, just say ‘yes’ and dive in! Wonder abounds…
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Many decades ago, my mom used to call a certain red-light district in Boston, “the Devils stomping ground” but my dad referred to it as the “Combat zone”.