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ON BEING FAITHFUL
Friday July3, 2015
It is what we stuck with!
Or that we stuck with it?
Every old habit examined has more familiarity than reason.
Some, painfully obvious, others obviously painful.
Getting away to think – if that is all it is, is something I could do closer to home.
Old places – ones I’ve never seen before, can opener-like. My brain mixture, spilling out and letting in.
I doubt I’ll ever live in these places or visit often, but I will pass this way again – which includes Montana – but mostly includes my mind set.
This process for thinking, doing and being – nearly a year; I’ve done it intensely, casually and intermittently. Lately, returning to more rigid routine.
Feeling better, sleeping better, thinking more clearly – working, like old faithful. Process, routine and focus of this habituation, or maybe it’s the air …
Mark Kolke
P.S.: eating adventures yesterday: hotel breakfast in Missoula, chicken lasagna for lunch at the Mackenzie River Pizza Co. in Butte, late dinner at Montana Ale House in Bozeman. Yesterday's travel: Butte was no buet - once in a lifetime is enough. Open pit mining isn't pretty. The drive there, from Missoula, was fantastic. As was the next leg to Yellowstone (and Old Faithful spewed on time). Best part of my day was the early evening drive from Yellowstone to Bozeman - one of the prettiest drives so far, awesome sunset ...
column written/ published from Lewis and Clark Motel, Bozeman, Montana
morning walk: 18C/64F. sunny, light breeze, older part of town - lots of restored old houses and brick buildings and sidewalks that need restoring; quiet morning in this town that seems to be mostly about young people and night life ...
Reader feedback:
EATING MONTANA
Would Bozeman be on your road trip? That is where I lived and worked for a time during my sojourn into Big Sky country. Bartended at St. George & The Dragon, downtown Bozeman. Also, avalanche patrol at Big Sky Ski Resort right after they opened. The 70s and Montana were both a thing of beauty and fond memories for me. If you get a chance, try to find grain (wheat) fed beef or bison as it is beyond description in the tastiness category. Can still remember that wonderfully unique flavor. Living vicariously through you this celebratory weekend. GW, Bon Wier, Tx.
If you are still in Montana you should really take the trip over the Going to the Sun Highway. It is about 2.5 hours. If you are in Kalispell treat yourself to a nice night at the Grand Hotel on the main street that runs north and south. Well worth it. GC, Calgary, AB
I Love that you are on a 'walk about' (in the car but none the less renewing of the spirit). Your prose makes me feel like I am right along with you. Thanks for the memories ( I 'picked up' and did the same thing a number of years ago...met so many wonderful people and had such a delicious adventure; cats ended up involved ofcourse. I drove from Lethbridge to Denver.) Your descriptions stimuate that memory and provide a 'nowness', too, SF, Lethbridge, AB … PS: I am sending this email site to a girlfriend who is single and moving to Calgary...
Hi Mark. I am a daily reader of your articles, LOVE THEM, I can so relate in many ways to so much you write. I really just wanted to thank you for making my mornings more interesting I hope you had a great Canada day. Have an awesome week. Keep the amazement, awe and wonder coming, BW, Kelowna, BC
CANADIAN SPOKE
Ah! Calgary Stampede mayhaps? Say hello to Big Sky country for me. I lived there for 3 1/2 years in the mid-seventies. Loved the people, loved the countryside, loved the wildlife; I simply couldn't take the cabin fever. I live to be outside and being outside with everything covered, including the eyes, just wasn't my cup of tea. I would love to travel through Montana and Idaho again some day. Just to see if it has changed as rapidly and vastly as Texas has in the past 10 years. As to being Canadian, you have every right to be proud and I salute you. GW, Bon Wier, Tx.
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