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 North 19th construction rhythm

I’ve been tracking the orange barrels on North 19th for three months now, and I’ve noticed they seem to move in a very specific, almost graceful pattern, yet never actually complete a road. My husband, Gary, says it’s a form of urban performance art meant to remind us that we aren’t supposed to get to the grocery store quickly anyway. I find it quite peaceful to sit at the light for twenty minutes. It gives me time to watch the new condo balconies being built while I contemplate why my own backyard is suddenly a sea of asphalt. I hope they never finish the pavement; the suspense is the best part of my commute.

— Darlene Huckleberry, Belgrade

Elk in the garden

To the person who complained about the elk eating their hostas: welcome to Montana. Last Tuesday, a herd of twelve moved through my backyard, stepped over my artisanal solar fence, and spent an hour chewing on my prize-winning hydrangeas while I watched from the window with a cup of locally roasted coffee. I did not yell. Why would I? They have been here much longer than my $800,000 mortgage has. If you wanted a lawn that stayed exactly how you landscaped it, I hear Florida is quite nice this time of year. I personally think the elk are just critiquing our color choices.

— Silas Thorne, Bozeman

Regarding the wind

I read a letter in last week’s issue from a visitor who found our winds in Livingston “distressing.” I would like to clarify that the wind is not a nuisance; it is a community service. It blows away the pretension and keeps the dust off the storefronts. If your hat flies off, it simply wasn’t meant to be yours. I spent twenty minutes yesterday walking sideways to the post office, and I felt more connected to the earth than I ever did in my old apartment in Chicago. If you can’t handle a little gale-force breeze, you simply aren’t standing heavy enough.

— Marcus “Muddy” Miller, Livingston

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