June, ca 2019

It was a fair and lovely evening as me and Ol’ Black Tahoe, my trusted steed, rid north through this Rocky Mountain valley. We was joined on the ride by a woman name of Lesley who is like-minded to myself in many the way. For she, too, packed her traps and trailed solo some 1800 mile from populous city, hers being in Southern California, leaving behind one life for the finding of another in these high mountain places. She has courage certain to do such. Perhaps that’s why I favor her company and find her companionship satisfying. We was headed up to the settlement of Bonner, what maps east of the Rattlesnake and is laid out along the Blackfoot River. It was there a Texas man come to play his music amongst them mountain.
His name being Lyle Lovett, and his band being play-billed as large. As we trailed northward through the cool of early dusk, we reined up briefly in the town of Missoula for a shot of whiskey and a cold beer at a rugged little establishment called the Old Post Pub. After a bit of grub to sustain us for the night ahead, we pushed on into Bonner. We come to the KettleHouse Amphitheater what is run by a friendly bunch of beer makers and, it sure seems to me, they know good tunes as well as how to make good brew. So we settled in, said howdy to friends Kevin and Rosanne just a few seats away, enjoyed mountain scenery surrounding us, and passed the time chatting as we waited for playing to begin. A light rain come falling but was not enough to dampen spirits and did not linger. Soon enough Mr. Lovett and his large band took to stage.



 Having done so, they then laid into them tunes hard and with greatest of enthusiasm until music was moving crowd up off they’s feet. The people was hollering and the band was playing and ol’ Lyle was crooning in his own Texas way. After a bit, three of them players, including Mr. L himself, started in on I’ll Fly Away. It was joyous.

Three voices making mere sound that utterly mesmerized. 

I believe even the Almighty Himself was stirred, and so added to the performance with heavenly strokes of purples and blues above mountain backdrop as they played on.

There are times when all things in life seem to line up precisely and create some soul-aching moment of concord and contentment I wish would not end. This night was one.

I am fortunate to have had more than my share in these high mountains and am confident there will be others. And though they too shall pass, I have not died today. And that is a fine thing. Yours truly…


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