Margaret E. Davis: Peaks and Valleys
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Kick out rote, kick up the roam
“Death Cafe”— it’s not your average cuppa. Intrigued, I headed to Whitefish on a recent spring afternoon to spend time in a coffee shop with 16 others discussing the end, our ends.
Burning questions answered
On my recent drives along U.S. 93, I had seen the plumes. Instead of cringing that it was wildfire, I’d smile because it meant someone was cleaning up a pile — a burn pile, that is, and a chore that many yearn to t…
Big bird saves the day
When we walked in earlier to the Lone Pine State Park visitors’ center, AmeriCorps program specialist Eryn O’Brien greeted us with a hearty, “Are you guys big birders?” She took our “no” in stride, and provided the…
Fresh ears for young writers
It’s all good. I practically skipped with glee after these volunteer gigs, and the rejuvenating effects lasted for hours — just for bringing fresh ears to new writers.
Cupid’s got nothing on Marion
They had me at “Anti-Valentine’s Day” in the event promo. I called my adventure buddy, and we headed to Marion.
Behind the open mic
Now a weekly event, the all-comers confab traces its roots to about six years ago, when emcee-organizer Colton Christensen worked at a Whitefish restaurant.
Sharp shooter captured a town
In these weather-bound days I hole up and read for hours. I finished a book about Lucie Duff Gordon, a London intellectual and translator who fled to Egypt in the mid-1800s to save her health and fell in love with …
Packers cultivate sunny outlook
Days are supposed to be stretching longer since solstice but to me it doesn’t feel like it. Winter can be hard around here.
The laureate rocks
I didn’t expect to hear Mary Oliver’s verse from Montana’s poet laureate, and here Chris La Tray recited her “The Summer Day.” We listened, then bent our heads to draw.
Maybe the Swifties take charge
After talking about journalism and sharing stories, we said bye at Sea-Tac with the idea we might meet up again as I often visited Seattle.
Some pivotal actors are quietest
As we gathered for a quintessential American holiday last week, I found myself also feeling grateful for Norwegians.
Science meets art in Yellow Bay
“Who here loves plants?” Seattle artist and former river guide and garden designer Sarah Jones asked the few dozen of us assembled for a day alongside Flathead Lake.
We can LEARN to save lives
According to federal mortality data, suicide in the U.S. hit an all-time high in 2022. In Montana, the state with the second-highest suicide rate in the country, it increased 42% from 2011 to 2021.
History exudes quirky diversity
One perk of my job came a year after I started at the Northwest Montana History Museum: I got to go to the Montana History Conference.
Democracy fans make it personal
“What is democracy?” Kristina Graber Wilfore asked the audience of about 40 people at her talk last month at the Northwest Montana History Museum.