It was the regionality and subject matter but also the steel underneath the quiet tale that called it to mind when I spoke to Jennifer Greene, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association recently,

Heavy rain fell across parts of western North Carlina on Thursday for the first time since the devastating flooding event from Hurricane Helene and many continue to rebuild their homes.

According to a report from the North Carolina Forest Service, Hurricane Helene caused more than $213 million in damage to the forests of western North Carolina impacting 821,906 acres.