Defense comes to Montana

My family has a long connection with the Big Hole Valley of Montana. Though my connections is as much folk lore and shared family memory as experience, by grandfather and grandmother both knew the valley well. There is a family story from the valley of my dad having to drive his grandfather back to the house when he was very young because of an accident with a piece of machinery. Proof that the clans that make me up left blood and sweat on the land.

So, it was interesting to read that Donald Rumsfeld has purchased a ranch in the Big Hole. What was more interesting and a nice little Christmas present was the reaction his neighbor.
It makes me miss my native land at this time of year, because on one hand Montana is still small enough that people notice when people move in. However, it's still independent enough to believe that getting along with your neighbors doesn't depend on agreeing on every topic. It's a place where there is room enough for ideas and debate, and a healthy accceptance of the reality that most of the things we argue and fuss over aren't that big of a deal.

The mosquitoes will likely terrorize Rumsfeld for a few weeks, and don?t expect to be able to reach him well on his cell phone. The winter wind will be brutal, and there will be times when it just doesn?t seem like it?s safe to go out. There will also be late summer days when the wheat is golden, and some rancher is still employing a 100 year old "beaver slide". Those will be the things that matter, and for that reason I'm a little jealous and a little homesick this Christmas.