“I shall be telling this with a sigh. Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

So, reads the closing stanza of the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken.”

It’s that segment of the writing that a young 20-something couple adopted shortly after their marriage just over 40 years ago.

They focused their journeys,  and subsequently life’s decisions, on taking the road, less traveled.

“And, that has made all the difference.”

That young couple, was actually my wife, Kim and I, and it pertains to our decision to make Star Valley our home decades earlier.

We had accepted jobs from the new owners of the Star Valley Independent and settled in at a combined salary of less than a first year teacher’s income.

I’m not sure how we made it but it became apparent that this was to be our home as I attended school, town and other meetings and realized we had found a good place to raise a family. My wife agreed. Not perfect, but definitely a place to raise a good family.

Our four children will attest to that, as Star Valley will remain forever near and dear to them in so many ways.

The early days were not easy as I mentioned the pay, but at the time very few people were moving into the valley, so acceptance was somewhat guarded.

I recall counseling with my wife and saying we’ll get past those reservations by giving back with service through our faith and to valley community.

In my mind, those actions simply fulfilled the two great commandments and it’s something we continue with today.

Using that approach, it’s been forty-three years of marriage and 40 years of living in Star Valley, running the valley’s newspaper. Then along the way adding a website, app, radio stations and live-stream sports coverage.

Time flies when you’re hard at work!

Along the way, Kim added a career in education at Star Valley High School and I, a couple decades of public service, locally and at the state level.

Along the way, the public service responsibilities have become life consuming but still worth it as we take care of Star Valley, Lincoln County and neighboring locations.

As a young couple, we could not have anticipated all of this — a teaching career where my wife would meet a few thousand Star Valley residents, through their children! At the same time making a difference for good with those young students.

I could not have seen a career that put me in a few thousand public meetings that offered a front row seat to life in our valley.

And that would, eventually, lead to public service and that service would put me in counsel with the key leaders of government at the local, state and national level.

Also, along the way, because of where I lived, travel was involved to Israel, Africa, China, Mongolia, Romania and most of Europe; some of this through humanitarian trips or simply by meeting people along the way, all associated with this unique mountain valley.

Decades of marriage and decades with the Star Valley Independent, almost equal in time.

And, all based on a decision decades earlier, “to take the road less traveled.”

The Star Valley Independent welcomes letters to the editor for the Opinion Pages. All letters must have the author’s signature and phone number and be 350 words or less in length. Thank yous are not considered letters. Personal attacks will not be printed. Letters from political candidates will not be published during election years. Letters will be edited for length and content when deemed necessary. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor or guest editorials do not necessarily reflect the view of the Star Valley Independent or its employees.