Why we live in Polson

Editor,

Comes a time, every season, when Polson just takes your breath away. If you haven't noticed, now is such a time.

While running errands around town, I recently found myself going by Sacajawea Park after visiting the city library. And that's when it hit me. The already golden-colored foliage was made even moreso in the brilliant light of the setting sun. I simply had to pull over and get out of the car to investigate this scene on the bay more closely.

Awestruck, I sauntered along the water's edge while taking notice of the sights and sounds of this most delicious autumn evening. Honking geese in their distinctive chevron formation were flying overhead. A gentle north wind created sparkling ripples that danced across the lake. On the dock, an angler's rod arched deeply as I watched to see if he caught a big one.

Needless to say, I quickly forgot my "to do" list and continued to explore the city lakeshore.

When I rounded Salish Point and turned my attention to the east, a rising Hunter's Moon over the Mission Mountains nearly knocked me off my feet. Plainly put, this view of Polson gave me pause to remember why I live here in the first place.

I completed my excursion at the KwaTaqNuk resort where I discovered a newspaper containing an article on the well-attended meeting about a new Wal-Mart Super Center. The proposal includes building a 150,000 square-foot store on a 27-acre piece of land. Increased traffic, low prices, greater sprawl, more jobs, and small business survivability are but a few things to consider about the super center and its impact on Polson. Whether you shop at Wal-Mart or not, you can be certain that there's nothing like a giant box store to either bring together a community or to tear it apart.

I have heard that one theory of heaven might be the aggregate of beauty that an individual can perceive over a lifetime. If so, this evening's walk along the lake made many delightful contributions. And, of course, it's up to you to determine if a Wal-Mart Super Center is part of your vision of Polson or heaven. At least it won't be on Salish Point.

Jim Rogers

Polson