Thank you to the lovers and haters alike

info During my father’s final years, when asked “How are you doing?” he would respond “Well, I’m still here.”

I’m beginning to feel that way about this column. I’m still here.

And I’m very thankful for that.

It’s going on 12 years now that I left Bozeman and I’ve written a column every week since then. All but a handful have seen print.

There are times when I wonder if anyone is reading. Months will pass and I’ll get little or no feedback.

Then I’ll write about a topic that touches a nerve (gun control, old dogs, wilderness spring to mind) and I’m reminded how many people still read the paper....