I
editor’s note
n each issue of WLM, I stumble upon an
inadvertent theme among the features. This time,
the theme struck me a little differently – they came
together to inspire me. I admit, it’s a self-centered
theme. My critics will be the first to point that out.
This time of year, we’ve wrapped up winter bridal expos
and the biggest push of the wedding sales year, and it’s
time to recharge the batteries. That’s where I always
love this issue and our late summer/fall issue, because I
can get back to the work of writing about Wyoming. As
one Saratoga friend told me last night, “Go back to the
outdoors to fuel your soul.” While some would laugh at
the thought of me being an outdoor woman, I do find
my soul revived in the fresh smells and renewing sights
and sounds. I may be the one applauding Wyoming’s
daring climbers from the safety of the ground below, but
you will find me one place, without fail, every summer –
by a river.
When I was a kid, my parents owned Snowy Range Ski
Area. A river flows adjacent to the parking lot, and that
was the place I would go whenever we’d visit, especially
once the summer treasure hunt of dropped change,
keys, beer caps and interesting items had all been
harvested from the parking lot. I would listen to the
sound of the rushing water, delight in watching grass
stems float away, and put my feet in the cold water.
Ever since, the sound of rushing water has appealed
to me, and a fountain has been one of my favorite
background noises while I work. Running water has
an energy that gets inside my bones.
Levi’s and my year as entrepreneurs is a series of
projects. As soon as we put one project to bed, we pick
another up. Many times, projects are overlapping, with
various items moving forward on the burners of our life
as other projects reach the ‘done’ stage. It’s exciting, it’s
engaging, it’s always moving … and sometimes, it can
be exhausting. Our entrepreneurial life is the source
of much teasing from our friends, and sneers from our
extended family and critics. Beyond WLM and its sister
magazines, Wyoming Weddings and the new Wyoming
Woman & Family that we’re working on developing, we
own Laramie Dance & Arts Center, House of Pounce
bounce houses, and a new dance & active gear store
with a goofy name, LKH&Company. And yes, we do
have ‘real’ jobs too, and kids. Some say it’s cool – others
say it’s crazy – we say we’re still trying to decide what
we’ll be when (if) we grow up. (Big if)
This issue feels like running water to me. We take
historical topics such as the Cody Time Capsule feature,
and the Bells of Autumn historical novel, mix it in with
the artistry of Clayton Bullock’s photography and
poetry, and renew its spirit in the work of Ned LeDoux,
who is perpetuating his father Chris’s legacy. Then we
tie it together with the magic of Wyoming’s front row
seat to the Solar Eclipse. As is the case with flowing
water, it never hurts to throw in a little adventure too,
in the form of 307 Adventures of Casper.
Assembling this issue has reminded me where the ‘juice’
for my batteries comes from – organic energy, love, my
kids and husband, the beautiful earth we are blessed to
inhabit. May we be its greatest stewards, so that we may
recycle this energy for generations to come. May you
always be inspired.
Til Next Time,
Kati Hime
www.wyolifestyle.com
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