This book is dedicated to my son John, who brought me to the state of Montana, and to the wonderful Montanans in the Bitterroot Valley who welcomed me with unconditional friendliness and warmth. In particular I want to mention Renee, Ryan, Todd, Doris, Kim, Pam, Sarah, Anita, Cindy, Nikki, Alex, Danny, Jason, Joy, Amber, Anna, Kaz, Harry, Tina, David, Connie, Mike, Jim, Trevor the vet, Tom the teacher, and Keith the joke teller. I also want to acknowledge a fabulous lady named Dallas who knocked on my door one day to say that she wasn’t there to sell me anything or to give me anything. She is just a real Montanan, and she noticed she had new neighbors, so she stopped by to introduce herself. Well, she did sell me something. She sold me on the state of Montana. And she did give me something, the gift of friendship, and later when we sat with her at a fund-raiser for a local woman stricken with cancer, she gave me a dozen farm-fresh eggs. I also want to thank Clearwater Builders for its excellent work ethic and for all the talented and amicable people employed by the company.

God bless Montana. g39BAMHJtOZaOZLa/oYOToRF4Np+qRbCN6BEGmqaXk9Jelzz/WeTjiAM37w8k6t0