As much as I sense the impending doom of the bitter winter ahead, I cannot help but revel in the beauty of autumn in Missoula. This truly is 'the garden city', and the wild colors of both the spring and the fall here make my daily walks to school seriously enjoyable. I actually feel sorry for those hapless folks driving around without the time or inclination to slow down and soak up the beauty of God's creation all around them. Those moments are what keep me sane in this race towards the end of my graduate program. Don't get me wrong, I love linguistics even more now than I did when I began. There are just times when I wish my life would slow down and let me catch up. However, despite the major projects looming over my head, I have found time to enjoy my friends and family. One of my most recent highlights was my dad's retirement/birthday bash a week ago. Jeni and Eli flew down from Minnesota, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins came from all over Montana and Wyoming, and numerous family friends showed up to share in my dad's retirement. It was a sweet time of fellowship and rememberance of all the crazy times in my dad's life and work. There were wild tales of bears, bison, and mountain lions, and even a few interesting revelations about my dad that I didn't even know...something having to do with freshman initiation and a bachelor party...I didn't ask for details:-). With so many family and friends united in one place my parents used that opportunity to host a BBQ to celebrate Brett's recent engagement to Amanda. It was fun to get to know her family and welcome them into the Aune clan. She has proven herself to be a strong woman... :-) It was sad to say goodbye and come back to my 'real life' here in Missoula, but considering how quickly my time here is passing, before I know it I'll be back in the Bozone for Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, I have more than enough work and play to keep me occupied; Blackfoot language studies, defining my Master's Thesis, teaching an English class on campus, playing soccer on a rec. team, hiking as much as the weather allows, cheering on the Grizzlies at their football games ( Don't worry I am still a Bobcat at heart...really), and generally trying to take full advantage of every opportunity given me while I remain in limbo here "100 miles from Montana."
My nephew Eli and I 
The family at Dad's retirement (Missing: Brother-in-law Bill)
Brian and I enjoying the natural hotsprings of Jerry Johnson in Idaho
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