The Bee publishes letters from readers across the Gallatin Valley. Letters are edited for length, never for truth, because we wouldn’t know where to start.

The sidewalk to nowhere

I am writing to express my mild concern regarding the new sidewalk installation on my street. It is a very lovely, wide concrete path that spans exactly forty-two feet before abruptly ending in a patch of tall, native thistle. I have noticed several joggers sprinting along the path with great purpose, only to reach the end and perform a confused pivot back toward their cars. While the craftmanship is excellent, it seems to lead exclusively to the neighbor’s golden retriever, who is always very surprised to see them. I am sure the city has a master plan for the remaining half-mile, but in the meantime, it makes for a very impressive, albeit short, stroll.

— Gary Halloway, Bozeman

Too many hats at the Co-op

My husband and I moved here from Oregon in 2012, and we have noticed a distressing trend at the grocery store lately. Specifically, there are too many people wearing hats that cost more than my first car. I went to buy some local honey last Tuesday, and a young man in a ten-gallon felt hat spent twenty minutes explaining the soil pH levels of the clover to the cashier. I just wanted to get home before the traffic on Jackrabbit Lane turned into a parking lot. If we are going to act like this is a working town, we should at least buy our honey in silence.

— Brenda Miller, Belgrade

Regarding the wind gusts

I see a lot of complaints in this paper about the wind in Livingston. People seem to think it is a nuisance. I have lived here for forty years, and I find the wind quite helpful. It keeps the neighbors from staying outside too long, and it does a wonderful job of moving my trash cans into the next county, which saves me the trouble of driving them to the dump myself. If you find the wind bothersome, I suggest you simply lean into it. If you lean hard enough, you don’t even have to use your legs to get to the post office.

— Silas Thorne, Livingston

Letters may be edited for length. Opinions expressed are those of the letter writers, who are also fictional.