A River (Will Always) Run Through It and any girl dating a Montana raised guy best grab a copy of the 1976 fly-fishing novella by Norman Maclean, because the first thing on your man’s mind will always be“Trout, trout, trout, trout, trout… Trout.”
1. He has more photos of fish on his phone than of you.
2. He owns more Costa sunglasses than you do shoes.
3. He spends more time picking out flies for the weekend than your birthday present.
4. His favorite cologne is a nice mix of river water, beer and cigars.
5. Your Sunday brunch plans get canceled as soon as the Skwala hatch happens… for the next six months.
6. Date night includes you and seven of his closest fishing buddies.
7. His ideal vacation is a weekend long bender in Craig, Montana… with his buddy Craig.
8. He refuses to take you to his favorite hole.
9. He is more turned on by a new rod than new lingerie.
“It’s fish porn at its finest.”
10. He refuses to take you on his boat until the “right” time, and that’s when you know he thinks you’re a keeper.
Special thanks to Big Sky Trouting for the witty inspiration and breathtaking photography.
He is a kind, loving and compassionate family man.
He has the ability to light up a whole room with his contagious personality, smile and laughter.
He also loves to play dress up with princesses.
So why am I writing this? I guess you could say its my tribute. My best friend Zach chose to end his life 2 weeks ago. It shocked his masses of friends and family. Zach was a 22 year old student former student of The University Of Montana. He was so gifted and truly a beautiful person from the inside out. It sounded like a terrible joke as the news was broke to me by his roommate and other best friend Jack Gagnon who found him that morning. Especially because I was with both of them earlier that night it was unfathomable. In 2010 the AFSP stated there was 38,364 suicides reported, making suicide the 10th leading cause of death for Americans. Suicide is complicated, and I have learned it leaves us with many questions unanswered. Often, we never learn exactly why our loved one took their life. But though opening yourself to help, your may find sharing your way through this tragedy we build support systems to help you go on living your life, and could prevent other tragedies.
Sometimes the hardest thing in life is to ask for help. To confess to the people around you the things you may not even want to admit to yourself. We all try to compartmentalize our fears and anxieties in some way or another, positively or negatively to avoid pain or disappointment, I know I do. Its impossible to deal with conflicting values, cognition, emotions, beliefs, etc alone with your one perspective. I mean how could you possibly understand the great symphony of the universe when we are simply one note. The strange thing about our defense mechanisms are they don’t actually help us cope and work through our problems in the long term. That requires open and honest communication. It sounds so simple but with evolving pressures of our society on our performance, looks, wealth, etc. How can any logical person deal with a world that operates in grey and dark areas everyday. I wanted to share my experience to maybe help others, to encourage people to communicate true feelings to the ones around you, in all your relationships. Because you never know when you may have to receive the news I did. Then realizing truly how special that person was, and hoping you could have done more. Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid. Say how you feel, do it often and seek help when the weight of the world drops you to your knees.
He would light up the room with that big goofy smile. Share all he had if he could just stay a while.
It seamed he had no worries and lived in his dreams. But to find out there was a lot of confusion in between.
It hurts me to wonder if I could have done more? A few more talks about life as we cried on floor.
But It couldn’t stop what I believe took him in the end. The doses of venom he drank killed my friend.
So I know at the end of the day he will always be that bright light. That goony laughter and happiness he brought to all our lives. Lived to short but lived it like Peter Pan, and Ill see you one day my brother, in Neverland.
As you probably know, the mentality and culture of Eastern Montana is far different from that of Western Montana. Some might even say the two regions should be different states…but that’s another story for another day. If you ever get lost in The Last Best Place, here are 12 signs you might be anywhere East of Bozeman.
1. The vehicle of choice is a nice big diesel truck
Ford F-250 to be exact.
2. The most popular hair style is the Snooki bump (even before Snooki made it popular)
Pretty sure Snooki should be throwing some props to Montana for her signature style.
3. You’re fashionable if you wear a camo coat, Wranglers, a plaid shirt, baseball cap, and Oakley shades. #RedneckSelfie anyone?
The best part is that I wrote the description before I found the photo. The Duck Dynasty poster in the background is just an added bonus. Classic!
4. You’re still expecting more snow and cold weather in April
Ya know that meme of Montana getting all 4 seasons in one day? Yeah, this is an example of that.
5. You start chewing tobacco at the ripe age of 13
Isn’t that SO cute?!
6. Getting an MIP is a normal part of high school
Seriously, the police should just write you a ticket as you enter your first day of high school.
7. It’s perfectly common to leave your cars running and unlocked at the grocery store during winter
…you probably even know which car belongs to who!
8. Your morning latte costs at least $5, and you can only get it at 2 locations in town
The latte art is seriously pushing it over here.
9. You pick up a Scandinavian accent while visiting
Every. Single. Time. It’s like you’re living out the movie Fargo.
10. Local Lutefisk dinners are the most popular events of the year
Yummmmm. Who doesn’t love lye-soaked fish that’s been boiled and smothered in melted butter?
11. You can count on two hands the number of businesses in your town
Okay, it might only take one hand. (Actual Main Street in Circle, MT)
12. Your idea of a fancy date is going to your local café for spaghetti and meatballs… and you might even wear your nice Carhartt jeans!
Srsly.
13. BONUS: You can visit North America’s smallest TV/radio station (KXGN)
TV channel 5 or 1400 AM on the radio dial (’cause we’re still reppin’ the AM frequency). Total market: ~5,000
