A real reason to be thankful (Billings, Helena: home, live, bus)

[MTSilvertip]

As anyone who lives in Montana knows, the weather can be severe and threaten life and limb at any time.

The past week of cold, snow, and high winds in some areas have caused some major problems for people just getting to town for grocieries. People can be stranded, fuel can run low, power can go out, you really have to be prepared for what nature thows at us at any time, but especially during the winter.

As usual, I have only seen this story in the Billings Gazette.

Blizzard rescue gives couple reason to be thankful

I am very familier with Big Timber as that is where my parents live and Howie Road where my sister and her family live.

I talked to my father on Friday and his 3/4 ton Dodge 4x4 pickup was completely buried by the drifting snow. There is a drift over the 6 foot corral fence, and his farm tractor is only showing the steering wheel and seat above the drift it is in. Conversely, his road was blown bare so he could drive the passenger car into town while the 4 wheel drives are all burried in snow

He thought they only received about 16 inches of snow, but the 70 mile an hour winds drifted it into huge, compacted drifts.

Big Timber is a great little town on the Yellowstone River with the Crazy Mountains to the North and the Absaroka - Beartooth to the south.
The only Platinum/Paladium mine in North America is there. Mostly small agriculture, it is a pretty quiet place.
But when something happens, people come out of the woodwork to lend a hand.

It is just one more great Montana Community, and the folks that live there, just as in other innumerable towns around Montana, remind me of a quote from a general at the battle of Iwo Jima during World War II when he said, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue",

In Small Town Montana, "Uncommon People are a Common but Irreplacable gift of Providence"

Thumbs up to all the folks involved in this rescue.

[popcorn247]

A wonderful story! Thanks for posting the link.

[Reziac]

Wow. That's one unlucky/lucky fella. Good thing he has good neighbours!!

Used to be in weather like that, rural folks would call around to make sure everyone got home or wound up wherever they were expected to be. If they weren't there, someone would go looking for 'em. Methinks with the winters coming back up to old-time standards, this just might be a good habit to get into again.

The past-its-bedtime part of my brain thinks the article should be retitled,
"Big Timber man molested in snowbank by barbed-wire fence"

[Threerun]

Great story. Sometimes I wish I could be back in a little more rural area, but practically it wouldn't make sense, so north Helena will have to do. I hope our neighbors have the same kindness and fortitude if the case calls for it.

Our old neighbors and dear friends from wv were all cut from that cloth. Never any question asked, nothing expected in return except if they needed the same. My old friend would jump in front of a bus for me or my family, and we'd do the same.

[Mt-7]

You know I hate to be a Polly-Anna but I think this is just a common trait here in Montana.
The idea of self reliance and helping your neighbor is here because you can be left to your own wits.
I know it has reinforce my faith in humanity. Montana has been good for my spirit. It is not perfect but that home waits for us in the afterlife.

That saying my special little friend lives in the glove compartment in case I run into that occasional bad neighbor.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by Mt-7

You know I hate to be a Polly-Anna but I think this is just a common trait here in Montana.
The idea of self reliance and helping your neighbor is here because you can be left to your own wits.

Well, yeah.... and it helps when the environment exercises those wits, making 'em grow up strong.

Originally Posted by Mt-7

That saying my special little friend lives in the glove compartment in case I run into that occasional bad neighbor.

Just think of it as helping that bad neighbour discover the afterlife.

[Mt-7]

LOL!
or the occasional yote

[Rickers]

I'm thankful that I don't have to worry so much now because my wife will have new tires on her car before this day is over.