Lazy Daisies, Missoula, Montana

Happiness is a unique commodity. It is never found by the person shopping for it.
 - Dr. Gary Chapman (in “Hope for the Separated")

Box Elder Greening, Hamilton, Montana

I think that I shall never see
a billboard lovely as a tree.
Perhaps, unless the billboards fall,
I’ll never see a tree at all.”
- Ogden Nash

Neon Nightlite, Red's Bar, Missoula, Montana

Missoula, Montana, still has a lot of areas - including downtown, & even near Red's Bar - where you can safely walk in the evening - & also take random photos. Of course, let me qualify - since my big sisters are (better be?) reading this - that I only sometimes do this by myself, & then only in the early evening, in high trafficked, well-lighted areas.

Group Effort Hut for Compassion International, East Missoula, Montana

This past weekend, River of Life, in East Missoula, Montana, hosted our first Compassion Weekend to offer the opportunity of child sponsorship. To provide a life-size illustration of what families in many third-world countries call home, the Street Teams gang brought random materials and added their sweat equity to build this hut in front of River Side Coffee House. My favourite construction contribution: after being amazed to hear that many homes have dirt floors, one of our grade-schoolers grabbed a shovel & was a driving force to move a bunch of dirt inside.

A bonus: on Sunday morning, three soggy cross-country bicyclists came in out of the cold, pouring rain - after parking their bikes in the hut! At this juncture of their Oregon-to-New York trek, Montana was killing them with unpredictable weather.

Red Poppy Full Bloom, Hamilton, Montana

Happiness, By Carl Sandburg, 1878-1967
I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them.
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along the Desplaines River.
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their women and children and a keg of beer and an accordian.

Red Poppies - Bud and Bloom, Hamilton, Montana

“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. “ - e.e. cummings

On this Memorial Day in the United States, I offer a sincere thank you to all serving in our Armed Forces for guarding our freedom, without which laughter is scarce.

Red Poppies Bud In Process, Hamilton, Montana

Pulling into the alley a few days ago, I couldn't help but notice that my neighbor's poppies are blooming again. (I just didn't take 97 photos this year....).