By: Dwayne Parton

When You Get To Bozeman

Let me be honest, I’m having a hard time. It’s not the living in the truck, that couldn’t be more enjoyable. And it’s not the loneliness, I have had some of the most wonderful days in the past two weeks! Between the mountain goats, Hyalite Canyon, new friends, a flattering article and some emails it couldn’t be better! I’ve been working like a mad man and felt super productive, and every day has been something new. I think I’m a little sad I left Bozeman but first let me tell you how I got there.

It started in Chadron, Nebraska at the Bean Broker. Chadron was a stop designated only for coffee and work. I only had a little work and had planned to leave afterwards but then I met Andie. Andie is super special! She’s genuine and kind and I want to just keep describing her but I can’t do it justice. Anyways, I stayed for 3 days. You don’t meet people like Andie very often. I imagine it would be impossible for you to meet her and not feel the same way. Her sisters have the same draw and I know there is something special about them as well. I have been trying to write down that story better but have not found the right words to do it justice. Perhaps the story is not over yet…

beautiful_people_at_the_bean_broker

You kayak?!?! Oh, you have to go to Bozeman! You have to meet my son Shawn! He’s a white water guy! You have to meet Mikayla! You have to meet becca! You will just love them all! ~Andie

Andie spoke with the biggest smile on her face, and put me in touch with Mikayla. I honestly didn’t think it would work out. When I was in Jackson Hole, Mikayla was recovering from a case of pneumonia. I won’t go into too many details but somehow it worked out and we were able to meet up. I couldn’t help but want to stay, I’m so glad I met them and the rest of their house: Doug, Sam, Hannah, and Em. They were all icing on the cake. We played music, games, fly fished, went out a couple times, and just sat and talked. Great people, who I hope will get to see again soon. If they’ll let me.

the_float_trip_crew

Shawn(I don’t know how he spells it) took us on a float trip down a section of the Yellowstone River. I was even able to kayak a little, which was so fun even though it was primarily floating.

mikayla_guiding_the_raft

Mikayla guided the raft like a pro and Shawn saved the day in the first rapid.

langs_first_time_really_kayaking

This was Langs first time on the river. He’s Mikayla’s brother and looked super comfortable on the water. He’s a natural.

lang_and_shawn

I feel lucky to have met such genuinely nice and welcoming people. This is what I was looking for. Stories like this. “You have to meet…” and then the story continues. It’s a special moment, a special time. Maybe, even orchestrated.

So let me be honest, I felt obligated to leave. I don’t do well with obligation and now I’m wrestling with that. I don’t want to feel obligated to go out and take pictures. I don’t want to feel obligated to write blog posts. I just want it to be an out pouring of myself. Does that make sense? When I feel obligated I feel like I’m putting on a front and I don’t want that. I’m just a normal guy, nothing special, I just want to live life outside, travel, see the Northern Lights, and I want my life to be a reflection of my heart and not some task that I think might impress or entertain others. I want to be the old wrinkle faced man full of stories because of the way he lived! I want to be me, and just me. Is that weird to say? I’m laying in the bed of my truck right now at the back of a Walmart parking lot in Missoula. No one has the slightest clue who I am. I feel small and I like that. So, I’m trying to take a moment, a day, a week, or however long to decipher my heart to make sure I’m ready. I know where I’m going, but I want to know I’m following the thread.

I wish someone had warned me. “When you get to Bozeman…you won’t want to leave.”