View from the North 40: It's a chive-seasoned insight

I don’t know about you, but I never can tell when I’m going to have a revelation.

Like last weekend, I went with a friend to a quiet gem of a lake in central Montana and — boom — there it was a profound moment. I know what you’re thinking, water tends to inspire such things, and this water was clear, warm, glass smooth in a mountain setting, blah, blah, blah. It couldn’t have been more picturesque, but, no.

I didn’t even touch the water.

I was in a long-sleeved shirt, jeans and hiking boots, you know, doing my part to keep America beautiful by keeping as much of myself as possible covered by o...