MONTANA GEORGE
August 15, 2001

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Montana George.  Isn't that an absolutely cool name?  Dennis and I came across the name on a tombstone (it simply can't be called a marker or headstone with a name like Montana George on it) last week while visiting the cemetery in Roswell.  Cemeteries are very cool and interesting places (except at night) as long as I avoid the children's section (way too sad).  Anyway, we came across Montana George and I immediately pictured an old cowboy with dusty clothes, leather chaps and his hat all out of shape from years of wear.  Montana George died in 1905 and I can't remember the exact year of birth but it was somewhere in the mid 1800's.  Who was Montana George?  What was his life like?  Think of all the changes he saw.  Was there a Mrs. Montana George and little Montana George's?  How did he die?  Was Montana George born in Mew Mexico and just adopted the name or did he travel from Montana?
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Dennis and I had set out for Las Cruces that day but instead decided to go to Ruidoso and on to Roswell.  On our way we passed the Billy The Kid hideout cave.  We had been in there before so didn't stop.  We got to thinking about how all these past cowboys, outlaws, farmers, ranchers, etc. traveled across the badlands of New Mexico.  A trip that took us a few hours would have taken them days on horseback or in a wagon without air conditioning and few water holes along the way.
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Their belongings consisted of what they could carry on horseback or fit into a wagon.  The encountered many dangers...snakes, terrible heat, torrential rains (thus the arroyos), lack of water, scorpions and unfriendly animals just to name the non human dangers.  Life was rough.  They couldn't stop at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Wal*Mart, K Mart etc. to pick up lunch or a few things for the trip.  As far as material things (next to a gun) maybe a picture of a loved one would be all they would have that could be considered unnecessary (although there was probably nothing more precious in some cases).
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Next time I go to Roswell I want to see if I can find out anything more about Montana George.  I cannot imagine living in those days.  I'm not one for roughing it.  Thinking of all the things people went through in those days makes Hot Wheels seem almost inconsequential.  We're a very lucky group of people to live when and where we do.   Trish
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