Oh Little Town of Ulm

Even though my mailing address lists us as living in Great Falls, we actually live in the tiny ranching community of Ulm, MT. Ulm lies approximately 8 miles outside of Great Falls' southern most city limit, and our house lies 3 miles further out from the town center, which consists of Quigley's Quick Stop, The Last Jump Bar and Casino, and The Village Curios Gift Shop, all of which sit kitty corner to the Ulm Post Office neatly arranged adjacent to the I-15 off ramps.

The owner's of Quigley's, a couple by the name of Chuck and Robin, often host picnics, BBQ's, and a well-attended annual Christmas party. Last year, Pat and I missed the party instead choosing to stay home to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. After hearing about last year's party, I realized what a gem we had missed. Also missed was the opportunity to more firmly cement our place in this new community of ours.

So, this year when the date was announced and the posters in Quigley's first appeared, I dutifully marked our calendar in hopes of not missing this opportunity once again.

On Thursday, December 22nd, at 7 pm Pat and I found our place seated with a small group of friends and neighbors in the Last Jump Bar enjoying what turned out to be a feast of home cooked dishes, freshly baked holiday goodies, and a host of holiday cheer. Throughout the night, Chuck interrupted the festivities by announcing the winning numbers for dozens of door prizes all provided by him and Robin as a way of thinking the community for supporting their businesses. Before long, Pat's number was called. He reluctantly stepped forward to receive his gift along with a hearty handshake from Chuck. Back at the table he revealed his bag of treasures: a DVD, several packages of popcorn, and several boxes of candy--what a treat! A night at the movies!

Other gifts included, bags filled with coffee mugs, coffee, wall plaques, cross-stitched hand towels, beer glasses, and gift cards. But the much talked about and highly sought after prize we all waited until the end of the night for went to a rancher named, Bud--a rather large flat screen TV that Bud said he would mount over his wife's bathtub. What a nice guy.

The little town of Ulm has become our home in ways we never could have imagined. Neighbors helping neighbors, business owners thanking their customers with a party, plus a weekly food bank at the church for folks finding themselves in a pinch has become the exception rather than the norm in most towns around the country. I feel especially blessed and grateful to find myself a part of a community bound by threads of kindness and decency, and a spirit of generosity that makes me proud to call Ulm my home and the folks that make this community special my friends.

And so it is.