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Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921
Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana


Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

A poem captured my attention the other day.

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget

Falls drop by drop upon the heart,

Until, in our own despair,

Against our will,

Comes wisdom

Through the awful grace of God.

Aeschylus


What's on your mind today?






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January 22, 2025 at 12:25pm
January 22, 2025 at 12:25pm
#1082672

The cold front has moved on, leaving ice behind. As cold fronts go, this wasn't too bad. There was one night the temperature dipped to -10°. Compare that to last year when it plunged to -40° for a low.

I still walk, no matter the weather. As someone wrote, and I have this on my refrigerator:
"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."

I mean, come on. Get outside, walk in the fresh air. Germs hate cold. Plus your body needs to move.

Yesterday I met with the new owner of the local newspaper. We chatted for a time. I signed a contract for my weekly column. Then she directed the conversation toward the fact that she is needing more help with the day-to-day operations. I sensed a feeling of her being overwhelmed by all the new chores she has taken on.

So as we talked more, she asked my opinion on having someone in an office for one day a week. What should the pay be? Hourly or flat rate? What kind of duties, did I think these duties would be too much? Perhaps should that person work at home versus paying to get the currently vacant newspaper office up and running, and how much that would cost since she runs a tight operation. At the end of all this discussion, including asking about another contractor for the paper, would she be a good fit? Suddenly she says, "Norma, would you be willing to be that office person?"

I agreed, since the flat rate for a day's work was fair, and I do have lots of time on my hands. But once I started thinking of this when I had time to process the whole conversation, I realized that the entire meeting was an interview. Or was it?

I enjoy writing, I enjoy learning new things. And the idea of learning how to run a newspaper, well, that just sounds like an interesting venture.

We did discuss the concept that printed news is perhaps dying. This newspaper has been in continuous operation since Roundup was established.
So, since 1908 it has been the paper of record for Musselshell county. It is sad, but perhaps the day will come when it has to be stopped.

But not right now.




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