In sad news, this is the final issue of the Leader that I’ll contribute to.

I’ve been accepted to a handful of graduate schools for the fall, and although I intend to linger around western Montana this summer before riding off into the sunset, my departure from the office marks a good time to begin the goodbye process.

But as I sit down to scribble a farewell to all the good people I’ve met throughout Lake County, I’m forcibly reminded that, even after 22 months at the Leader, I’m still prone to crippling bouts of writer’s block.

This episode, though, is understandable.

Quite frankly, there’s simply no way to adequately voice my gratitude or appreciation in such a short piece, especially if I were to attempt to thank individuals by name for all the help and kindness I’ve received.

So, instead of printing a list riddled with omissions, I’ll briefly try to articulate what has made living and working in Lake County such a rewarding experience.

Those highlights are hinted at by the scant decorations in my office, such as clipped newspaper photos showing mountain lions, the Northern Lights, and other scenes of local splendor or good-natured humor (like the old Shooting Gallery photo of a horse giving a hay ride to a bunch of dogs).

It’s those kind of “only in Montana” stories that have been some of my favorites.

Whether it was reporting on the black bear that reportedly swam into Polson last year, last month’s bighorn sheep roundup, or touching on the colorful history of the Flathead Lake monster, I’ve had the privilege of covering countless unique stories and am glad that local residents don’t take the area’s flavor for granted.

Montana is the sixth state that I’ve lived in, and thanks to all of you, it could quite possibly be my favorite one yet. It’s easy enough to become enamored with the scenery, but much of its charm stems from the honest, friendly, down-to-earth people that call it home.

Whether it was seeing the community donate time, money, and energy to charitable events, or simply hearing a hello from a passing stranger on the sidewalk – something that doesn’t happen in most places in America – I was continually impressed by the quality of the people.

In Nepal, another of the world’s mountainous playgrounds, there’s a saying that you initially come for the landscapes but you return for the people.

That’s how I feel about Lake County, Montana.