Trust made lasting impression

Editor,

Twenty-three years ago I immigrated here to the Mission Valley. Jan and I were on a fishing trip and wanted to see this part of the world. It was from the overlook above Elmo that we first saw this fair valley.

Wow! The evening sun lit up the Missions and the lake dazzled like the jewel that she is.

That night we camped on the river below Kerr Dam, when I tried to cook supper I found that the Coleman stove was malfunctioning. The next morning found me in front of Davis Mercantile, the hardware store in Polson next to where Crazy Mike's is now.

The gentleman upon hearing my predicament and seeing the stove told me to go in the back and use the tools on the bench and fix the problem. Thinking I had it fixed, I thanked the man and headed to Ronan to visit with some friend of Jan's mother who had a ranch on Round Butte Road.

On the drive down I voiced my appreciation about how trusting and willing to help me the clerk had been. I was impressed.

Well, that night again the said stove still was kaput. Next day in Ronan at the hardware store on Main Street I again went in with my stove to try to fix it, and there also the clerk let me go in the back unassisted to use their tools. I thanked the good man and headed out with the stove now fixed.

On the road to Yellowstone I more than once marveled how helpful, trusting and nice the people of Mission Valley were. Now you might think this is malarkey but I have told this same story to lots of people about why we settled here to easily validate it.

It's true this valley has so much to offer in natural wonders and I love them but it was the people that I met here and the sense of community that I also love and that had a great bearing on our choice to live here.

So I was wondering if a Super Wal-Mart comes here and all the small stores with people I know are squeezed out and closed, what we will have gained and what will we lose. I think I know, and if it does come to pass and the view of the lake is marred by giant stores, it just might be time to go fishing.

Will Tusick

Polson