Montana Jones

Fire and beer

Woman:

Hey guys, that fire is about to jump the road.

Guy:

Need help?

Woman:

Yeah. Z_ called the fire department, but we need to make sure it don't jump the road.

Guy:

Hey Jones, how's your fire fighting skills?

Me:

Never done it, but I'll come along.

When I got out of the truck I took the time to look around carefully, noting where people were and where there was smoke and flame and survey the terrain. A safety check. My friends went to consult someone they knew raking at the burning grass near the road. The consensus was that the fire would only cross the road if the wind picked up and at the moment no ones house was in danger. More importantly, did anyone bring beer? There is only the one here and it's warm.

Another pickup truck arrived with an assortment of shovels and rakes in the back. The tools were handed out but no one moved to the fire. "Good thing you brought these" someone quipped, "we didn't have anything to lean on. Did you bring any beer?"

Another pickup truck arrived. The driver leaned out the window and joked "Typical goddamn Montana fire crew. Standing in the road and bullshitting. I'm surprised you aren't drinking beer."

The next half hour went much like that. People arriving, leaning on shovels, chatting up their neighbors, occasionally glancing at the fire and complaining about the lack of beer. When the fire truck arrived and men with yellow shirts and hard hats started surveying the scene it was apparent that they had not brought beer either. The tools were returned to the pickup trucks and the gathering broke up.

She:

How long have you been in Montana?

Me:

About three years.

She:

Does it surprise you how obsessed with beer everyone is?

Me:

No. I'm not surprised. I picked up on the beer culture real quick after moving here.

Labels: Beer, conversation, culture, fire, neighbors

Posted by: Montana Jones / 8:15 AM