SLEEPY TOWN SALES

Saturday I had the distinct pleasure of returning to the town I lived in when first coming to Montana in 1973: Seeley Lake. I've returned before, of course, to visit friends, hike and collect larch balls. This time I returned as an author to read at the Grizzly Claw Trading Company (which used to be the Seeley Lake Merc). D and Sue have collected an amazing array of stunning objects including many fur pelts, beautiful beads and jewelry, clothing, artwork with a Native American emphasis, and a huge selection of books.

I admit, I carried my old concepts about Seeley. I strongly doubted anyone but the few friends we have up there would show up. I'm afraid I still saw the tiny mountain town as a haven for loggers and trappers. But this is not the case! We had about 15 folks, and sold TEN books! The questions were fun because most of the audience was my age, and remembered bits and pieces of the seventies.

I had worn my snow boots out of the old memories of May in Seeley when snow was still in 3-4 foot berms, and puddles froze solid at night. Again not the case: no snow in sight in the valley although the mountains still wore their winter shawls. But one thing that hadn't changed was the resident deer population wandering along the shoulders of the highway, or crossing without looking! Driving 45 mph seemed the safest thing to do, so our return journey at night was a little slower.

I've begun work on a book about Morning Star's adventures in Seeley in 1972 such as midwifing, skinning animals, working in the cafes and a deepening connection with nature when the little town had 300 residents in the winter and 500 in the summer. Now there are easily five times that number of folks in the little village that rests cozily between the Rockies and the Swan Range.

Thanks to the Grizzly Claw for their hospitality, for folks that brought goodies and wine, and for the new readers willing to open to another reading delight.