Happy 100th You Young Ol' Gal
Dear Whitefish,
With the New Year rolling around faster than ever, I wanted to write you a note to say that I am thinking about you and your upcoming birthday in April - you are 100 years young this year! If you think about it, it's amazing how young you are in the grand scheme of things. I mean 100 years in human history is just a blip. And 100 years in geologic history? Now you're just downright a baby.
What do the next 100 years hold for you?
I see that the resort tax anti-pothole cream has really been working for you. Your skin has drastically improved in the ten years I have known you. Your brain has definitely been challenged at times, but the mind of the city council seems to be firing on most pistons these days. Of course, there are some cancers lurking in the county, but the brain stem in city hall seems to have its eyes on that.
The cells of Whitefish are strong - what a joy it is to walk the capillaries of your streets and greet energetic people with warm smiles and a heart-felt 'how are you?' The people of Whitefish are the blood that gives you life.
The care that goes into your upkeep is enormous. We grow smarter reading in the library, our souls feel more fully with theatre and music, our palates are teased by your eateries with food fresh from the land, and our lives are enriched by all things athletic as we play across your terrain.
Your shape - the well-rounded mounds of the Whitefish Range, are the lust of many. Whether covered in a thick warm blanket of snow or speckled with cool wild flowers - your beauty is undeniable.
I know I'm getting a little carried away here, but I must say that you have got to be one of the best little cities in America. I mean look at you! Fabulous ski resort at your head, beautiful glacial lake in your sexy mid-section, and fabulous farmland at your feet.
But in some ways, even though it is a joy to see your face shining always brighter, sometimes I worry about your heart. There are speculators looking to mine your soul for gold - and your health could change in an instant if things go badly.
The good news is that your immune system is sound and your body is protected by the many, ever-generous antibodies ready to take on whatever diseases that may threaten you. The rally call in Whitefish is strong - because at your heart are the good people that raised you.
But enough of this sour talk - the real reason for this letter is to tell you that I love you and that I'm proud of you. If beauty were dollars and good people were gold, we're living in the wealthiest place on the planet.
Happy birthday! Thanks for being you.
Brian Schott is a Whitefish resident and a regular contributor to the Pilot