Last Bozeman Day

We’ve had a nice time here in Bozeman. No heavy lifting, and pleasant all the way around. We’ve learned a lot, and it’s made us think a lot about the middle of the country.

The people that settled here were tough hombres. The weather here can be cruel, and it’s so vast that isolation must have been harder than the weather. It’s a special person that can deal with the hardships of distance and extreme weather and still be an innovator and entrepreneur.

It seems to have made people here more independent, and more forgiving. We saw a mom in Livingston with her 6 year old son, riding bikes to meet Gram at a restaurant. The little tyke navigating the road and cars, helping himself to a buffet that was above his head, and carrying a real plate to the cashier for weighing – it wasn’t his first rodeo. Kindness is embedded into these people – every service person genuinely wanted to help us. You learn to be nice to each other because we all need each other.

The older people in town are walking around in jeans and hiking boots, stopping to chat, heading to yoga class, and ordering chai lattes in hip cafes. No room for complaining. They are holding up political signs and urging the young people to vote and care. Young people were the volunteers at all the museums and the university offers everything from Bill McKibbon and Isabelle Allende lectures to drag Queen brunches.

There was one well dressed student today, but overall there is no fashion sense. Not even the gay men.

We started the cool morning in front of a fire and headed to Rockford Coffee for a great cup. We took a leisurely walk and headed out to drop the car. We wanted to see the living history museum and the University was right next door, so we had breakfast with the Bobcats.

We haven’t been to a dining commons in years, but MSU’s is locally sourced and diverse. Gorgeous fruit, local sausage and homemade rhubarb strawberry compote with allspice (yes, Brad had eggs and toast). We walked around the campus, heard the carillon bells and took pictures of the trees and birds.

The Living History museum didn’t disappoint. Lovely MSU students in period dress, knitting, feeding chickens and interpreting.

We hung around town in the afternoon in front of the Co op and watched greater Bozeman walk by. Everyone third person had a yellow MSU Bobcats T-shirt as there is a game tonight. We talked to the local horse and carriage operator and stumbled upon one of the loveliest chocolate shops that I’ve ever been in. Such a lovely surprise.

The high school boy who waited on me was a delight. The chocolates are all made on site and the owner is French. We sat and sampled and bought treats for our trip. What about a trip to France with this wonderful couple next year? Who’s with me?

So we’ve finally met our crew tonight. Our guides are very experienced and really easy. The people we’ll be traveling with are also easy to get along with and intrepid travelers all. I know we will learn a lot.

We are packed and ready and watching the Bobcats decimate Maine football team. I’m reading some Annie Proulx Western stories tonight and looking forward to the week ahead.

Talk to you from Yellowstone.