Montana n: A state of the northwest United States bordering on Canada. Admitted as the 41st state in 1889. The fourth largest state in the union, it includes vast prairies and numerous majestic mountain ranges.
Syn: Treasure State, Big Sky Country, Last Best Place.
Jones n: slang. An addiction or very deep craving.
Monday, June 18, 2007
The howdy epiphany
The epiphany happened at the party. A sunny backyard flowing with laughs and banter, people drinking beer, the smoke from the grill biting the air. There were folks around that I knew and could talk to. The scene was a striking contrast to life in the first year after arriving here. It was comfortable and I felt I belonged.
In my first year as a Montanan I was alone and adrift among the mountains. A new person in a new place and not yet part of a community. Now, this spring, I have been a different person. I have been out playing and enjoying myself, I know places to go and things to do. I have been meeting people, I know names and we have common things to talk about. I know people I can call when I feel like. I know my neighbors well enough to stop and chat with them. I am fitting in.
It has been two and a half years, and the process is not over, but I am beginning to settle in. It feels good.
You know you are Montanan when you can comfortably howdy your neighbors.
Labels: epiphany, fitting in, howdy, Montana, party, settle
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There is more Jones in the archives: February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 December 2009 January 2010 May 2014
