w w w. d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a . c o m
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pubLIShEr
pubLIShEr
There are many stars in Montana.
No, I'm not talking about Jeff Bridges, Andie Mc-
Dowell, David Letterman, Phil Jackson, or Ted Turner.
They are mere stars of the moment, flashes of fleshy
brilliance in the bottomless void of space and time.
The stars I speak of are those in Montana's night sky,
where they mingle with other, nearer bright objects—
the moon, Venus, Jupiter, and the like. These are,
perhaps, also just flashes against a backdrop of infin-
ity; but in human terms they hold permanence and
marvel.
Upwards of 70% or more of the U.S. population
cannot see the night sky, the very same heavens that
we in Montana can enjoy every clear and cloudless
night. There are most definitely exceptions. When
standing outdoors from one side of my home the sky
is brilliant, magical, the Milky Way curling its smoki-
ness though the dark pitch of eternity. On the other
side of my home the nearby city's lights refract in an
unearthly glow, and the stars cower from dimness
to invisibility. I sometimes wonder if the people liv-
ing in town venture out just a few miles to view the
night sky, or if they are part of that unknowing 70%.
Does it matter? Well, I think yes. It is a powerful
reminder of life's connectedness, our insignificance,
and the impossible brevity of our own existence,
individually, and as a species. My own life takes on
a different shade of being when I take time to notice
Montana's night sky, which makes me wonder if
others experience the same thing, and if we all
wouldn't be much better off if the world just turned
off all its lights at night.
Wouldn't that be wonderful?
a NotE from thE
pubLIShEr
BIll muhlEnfEld, PuBlIShEr
bill@distinctlymontana.com
(406) 587-0342
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