Moose Seeds

I think I'll wait until early spring to plant my moose seeds. It's tempting to do so now, but I'm a little wary of what winter has yet to bring. Wouldn't want those seeds to freeze before they germinate and produce little 4-legged creatures to romp around the yard and scare our horses.

I'll probably plant them out by the pond so the babies will have instant access to water once they spring into life from the clay mounds out there. They're supposed to inhabit a forest. That area near the pond has the most trees---not quite a forest but enough to fool the little critters. I've heard moose don't have very good vision anyway.

Of course, I've got another concern: these are Vermont moose seeds so I hope they will adapt to the North Idaho environment. Time will tell.

Bryant Jones sent me the seeds, along with a Vermont cow paddy and some Vermont Country Cow cocoa. The package arrived via the UPS man yesterday. The last time I saw Bryant, he stopped at the end of my driveway on his way to Schweitzer. That was a couple of weeks ago.

During our conversation I lamented the fact that I hadn't received my Duck Boy calendar. He started delivering me a copy at Christmas time a few years ago. I guess they don't have Duck Boy calendars in Vermont. I really didn't need a gift from Bryant, but that's the kind of thoughtful guy he is.

Bryant's also the student body president at the University of Vermont. He was telling me in our last visit about his upcoming meeting with the founder of Jet Blue Airlines. I would loved to have accompanied him on that visit cuz, from what I've heard, the guy's a genius---and a fun one at that.

I've known Bryant since he was an iddy biddy guy. His mother, District Judge Debra Heise, moved to Sandpoint and first lived at Condo Del Sol. We lived there briefly after our house burned down in 1984, and we were probably among the first people she met in Sandpoint.

Later, her husband, Jeff Jones, and Bryant moved north from where they lived in Southern Idaho. Because of our friendship, I've enjoyed watching Bryant grow up. I also taught him for two consecutive years. We became good friends.

I've always admired his "can do" attitude. This personable young man believes in the power of the human spirit and he exemplifies it through all his notable achievements. I believe it's in his genes.

Sadly, Bryant's father Jeff (then Sandpoint's city attorney and visionary) died suddenly a couple of years ago. The community appropriately decided to name its town square after Jeff who peddled his dreams for our community as enthusiastically as he pedaled his mountain bike.

Now, Bryant carries the torch for his own dreams and, I'm sure, for his father to make the world a better, more hospitable, friendly place. And, if mailing moose seeds to your old teacher will promote the vision, Bryant has succeeded.