By Joselyn Watkins

            Oft times we have heard the expression,” If life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. In the town of Lake Lure we have true lemonade makers. Listen to their story and then think if you want to complain about your lot in life.

            It was the wailing of the fire engines in 1997 that alerted the community of Chimney Rock that there was an enormous fire underway as the historic Esmeralda Inn built in 1890 shot flames skyward. Owners Andrew and Jo Anne Powell Okpych stood by helplessly watching as their dream virtually went up in smoke. An explosion in a compressor ignited the fire gaining momentum as it climbed into the ceiling.

            The insurance covered the mortgage, but not the building or the rebuilding of the Esmeralda according to Akie as he is called by friends. He couldn’t say enough about the community and friends who supported him and his family after the tragedy. Early one morning on awakening he found an envelope under his pillow. Probably the crinkling of the paper woke him. Upon opening said envelope he found three thousand dollars in cash from some wonderful benefactor who he has not been able to locate to this date. Akie said that the help of friends and other supporters was ,”burned into their memories”.

            Undaunted Akie and JoAnne started to rebuild the Inn. His expertise of being in construction as a carpenter years earlier in New York City no doubt helped him as he oversaw the reconstruction using the best of fire protection standards and materials.

            But, rotten lemons do not make good lemonade and as Akie and JoAnne were finding out they would have to find some good lemons. Jo Anne had experienced breast cancer not just once but twice. She was able to survive these episodes, but then she faced a heart transplant which she has also survived.

            However, through all of this the Okpych’s attitude was that they did “not fault God”, but considered it “just as tests”. They determined that they “couldn’t dwell on negative things because there are so many challenges and opportunities that come about”. Also, they said that, “there is always somebody in life that is in much worse shape.”

If you ask Akie if he has a bad hip or knee because of his noticeable limp he will relate the story of sky diving unintentionally in a Sysco Warehouse. This event resulted in a smashed ankle that has pins holding the ankle together as each step reminds him of the incident not to mention the arthritis that has set in subsequently.

            To know how they think after all their hardships is a testimony to two people who have an amazing faith. This is even enhanced by the fact that they started out squeezing lemons early in their marriage when they had their first child who had a major health problem and needed surgery. In later years another child faced a life threatening illness. However, at this date both of these children are doing well.

            As no strangers to major set backs in their lives, the Okpych’s now face a major test with Akie’s health because chronic leukemia plagues his very existence. Akie submits to doses of chemo when indicated.  Despite this limitation he says that their lives have seemed to have taken on fifteen year apparent segments.  Fifteen of those were in construction, fifteen with Sysco Corporation as Vice President in charge of operations, fifteen as owners and operators of the Esmeralda Inn and now Akie is in his sixth year working for Ingles hoping to complete fifteen years at this location.