We are living in strange times. The key word in that sentence is living, which is what my note is all about this month. Bozeman Magazine celebrates life in Bozeman, Montana, we tell the story of Bozeman, past and present, and we feature local events before they happen in articles and with our Greater Yellowstone Events Calendar. When events ceased in March 2020, I felt a bit lost, and the loss of upcoming events and celebrations is something I have personally grieved over the past weeks. Notably, my eighth grade daughter’s class trip was canceled, her performance in Matilda was canceled, her eighth grade graduation will likely not happen. These are big events in the life of a thirteen-year-old, events that can’t easily be replaced. Likewise, some of our contributing writing interns were set to graduate from MSU this month - see the article Class of Covid-19 by Mia Snyder within.

We will get through the disappointment of lost events by continuing to live!
I have some experience with thriving in strange times. I was in the first class of Montana State University students to graduate after 9/11. I can tell you that it wasn’t a fun time, the world did slow down, the economy was a mess, no one was hiring, and the dreams I had of getting a great job with a college degree quickly were met with the reality that I was going to have to figure it out on my own. The spirit of survival, of reinvention, and of the rugged individuality that Montanans are known for is what I called upon to make it through. It took working some jobs I didn’t love and skiing some runs I did to turn me toward creating a family and a business that would benefit my community.

It will be the reinvention of ourselves and our businesses that will help us thrive in these times. How will we come out better when coronavirus has passed? We will do that by supporting each other, by brainstorming with each other, by keeping our dollars local, by supporting local farmers and workers that keep us fed and healthy; we do it by living a Bozeman life.

Printing this issue of Bozeman Magazine was a hard decision for me personally. I am very concerned with public health and didn’t want to encourage people to go out to pick up a copy of the magazine if it could be detrimental to their own health or the health of our community. We decided to print a limited run to encourage you, to make things feel a little more normal, to show solidarity with our local businesses all struggling to find their new normal, and to share the stories of life in Bozeman. Please show your support for our advertisers by letting them know you saw them in Bozeman Magazine.

Thank you for reading this May issue, and all of our future issues. Be well.