PORCH PONDERINGS

Big News

Today was busy til about 1 PM. It was the annual Pancake Breakfast at the Museum. This is a big fundraiser, we have only 2 per years. The breakfast and a yard sale. Our museum is self-funded. We get no money from the state of Montana, from Musselshell county or the city of Roundup. So that is good and bad. We are not beholden to any entity for funds, and as a result, are not able to provide much in the way of what other museums provide. Such as staff, educational programs, etc. But we've been operating this way for 50 years, so I guess we'll keep on for another 50.

We served over 135 people. We wrapped silverware yesterday in that amount, so we had a beginning count. Then we had to wrap more during the event. So perhaps upwards of 175? Busy. My chore the past few years is serving the dining room. Coffee, juice, and silverware and bussing tables. Sometimes with help, usually without. Whew. Like a busy diner.

But when it was over, I took a big deep breath and walked across the street, sat down and relaxed at home for a bit. Then walked to the store for sustenance. Klondike bars.

There was a very big story on Friday here. My friend, the county attorney, had a big trial. There was a guy they caught in a sexual abuse case. Sick stuff. He let me read the case file. Oh brother. Well, Ben, the attorney, told me they were going for 100 years in prison. 25 years for each child. They had a good case, lots of video files, personal testimony, he was a known sexual offender, on and on. So the news went out over social media and the Billings news channels last night. Yep - 100 years.

I saw Ben at the museum breakfast this morning. I congratulated him on helping to win that case. He's a father of young girls. It meant a lot to him to get this person off the streets. He mentioned that the person argued in court about the sentencing. But in the end, the criminal got a punishment.

So this evening I am trying to relax after all this uproar. Museum excitement, big court case. A storm is coming tomorrow. The wind is blowing tonight. But it will be alright. Everything will be alright.