About Diaries

Have never kept a personal diary, which I often regret. Did keep logs required by Army or smokejumper duties; however, this column has turned out better than a diary because it shared the last fifty years as Iris and I raised four kids, had various careers, along with so many local and worldwide experiences. High point for this year’s 88th birthday was a picnic at the Veteran’s Home with just me and my children ... only us, Shannon, Heidi, Wendy, and Clark, with an Iris-baked cake. Never had that situation since they grew up years ago. It was a wonderful afternoon.

Got to wondering what was happening thirty years ago so just looked in the files. Following is dated July 30, 1987:

“This column will probably be shorter than average and contain abnormal typographical errors. As I type, the need for rest dims my brain and sags normally taut and bulging muscles. Man was not intended to have this kind of summer. Married off a daughter with attendant chaos that should mandate a long rest; however that event was followed immediately by a July which began with two tough mountain climbs courtesy of the “Thursday Over the Hill Gang.” Those were followed by the scary Grinnell Point climb, then the overly exciting weekend “grizzly viewing trip” with Iris and the O’Neils to Granite Park.

Four days later was the Spokane and Couer d’Alene expedition with the Sewing Club. Three days later “The Gang” rendezvoused, with Dr. Gordon Edwards at Many Glacier for an arduous hike and climb on his famous “Pinnacle Wall” goat ledge which meanders a vertical face three thousand feet above Helen Lake. I got home Friday at 2 a.m. and was on the job at KOFI at 5:45 a.m. I’ve taken only one day off there this summer while also running four personal land businesses.

Since then it’s been busy. Besides my 58th birthday on Thursday, which we celebrated on a high rock ridge of the Continental Divide, my high school class devoted Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to holding a fortieth reunion that left no time for rest. This day, Monday, was spent at the pro golfer’s clinic and exhibition match at Buffalo Hills, featuring Walter Maltby and Alice Ritzman, where I gave Alice a bad tip for putting the fourth green.

Tomorrow’s a golf match with my son. Thursday another mountain to climb, then Friday begins the annual three day meeting of the “Moose City Airport, River, and Beaver Dam Protective Association” which owns the old Madge Cooper Ranch on the Canadian border next to Glacier Park. As president of that fine group of folks from across the United States, I try to keep them busy at small tasks of repair and restoration while they try equally hard to sneak off to pick huckleberries, go fishing, float the river, or just sit around the campfire drinking beer and telling tall stories.

I don’t know if this personal outpouring is complaining or bragging, but I’m starting to pray for an early winter, with storms so bad the telephone lines all break, and no one can leave their homes for two weeks.

I’ll have two days next week where it looks like I may get as much as four hours per night sleep, so I’ll be more rested. Thank you for being so understanding.”

Found quote of the year from coach John Wooden. “Things turn out best for people who do their best with the way things turn out.”

G. George Ostrom is an award-winning columnist. He lives in Kalispell.