On January 7th, the Sheriff’s Office Report in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle noted, “A man fell from his roof on Cottonwood Road while trying to reattach roofing that had blown loose in the wind.” The last thing I remember, before becoming semi-awake in the American Medical Response ambulance, was reaching to sink the last roofing screw with my impact driver. I had fallen some 12-15 feet, landing on our deck, unconscious and bleeding.

While this surely isn’t the most auspicious way to begin a new year, I learned lessons and gained insights about our culture, community, and political economy. I hope they’re worth sharing.

Unconscious individuals cannot make responsible decisions about their treatment. Visits to the ER are unplanned but subject to probabilities; a rancher or bull rider is more likely to be injured on the job than a desk worker or a pro golfer. Insurance rates should reflect these relative risks.

Once released from the ER, insurance buffers me from most of the financial costs, thus, I have little incentive to economize. My case illustrates America’s most serious political problems, ranging from medical care to water policy. Specifically, any resource that’s free or priced at a deep discount will be over-consumed and wasted.

These problems have profoundly serious implications. When prices don’t indicate real costs, due to subsidies or third party payments, we’re apt to over-consume and misallocate scarce resources. Given the realities of interest group politics, there is no easy fix for any of the resultant problems.

I’ll still pay high non-monetary costs: pain and activities foregone. I told a friend, “Despite broken ribs, compressed vertebrae, and miscellaneous ouches and bruises I’m happy to be home—but alas no skiing until next year.” Further, I must miss opportunities to work with friends, and forgo walks with Ramona. I won’t even plow snow with a four-wheeler or ride up to our shooting range on nice sunny afternoons. Should the snow get deep, we’d have to feed the horses out on winter range and I can’t possibly hay them. (Don’t worry, others will.) In sum, I’ll miss many of our normal winter pleasures.

I hope you’ll share my increased appreciation for our community and friends. What follows is a remarkable tribute to our emergency response system.

Ramona found me unconscious and bleeding. She called 911. Soon the Gallatin Gateway VFD arrived and contacted an AMR ambulance. Seventeen minutes after receiving the call, paramedics Holly and Brian arrived. They strapped my unconscious body to a backboard and started an IV drip. They called Bozeman Deaconess Hospital requesting Trauma Team activation.

The Bozeman Deaconess Emergency Room notified all trauma team members; they were on stand-by awaiting my arrival and the surgical team was placed on alert. The X-rays, lab work-up, and Cat-Scan were completed within 45 minutes.

This competent and rapid response is a tribute to our first responders and to Bozeman Deaconess, a Level Three trauma center. And the story gets even better.

After initial treatment in the ER, I was placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Mine was a clinically, but not socially, antiseptic experience. I learned if one happens to be injured, Bozeman is a great place to be! This is surely no accident, but rather the result of planning, organizing, and mobilizing high human capital and medical technology.

Four clergy stopped by to comfort Ramona and cheer me. One even sent flowers. Many friends came by and more called. We are all fortunate to be part of our well-functioning community. I think it likely that out-of-state visitors sense this and decide Bozeman is an attractive potential home.

We can draw general implications from this personal account. First, and most obviously, old guys shouldn’t climb on roofs. Second, we should all appreciate the level of competence and concern demonstrated in our community when accidents occur. Third, we should support the arrangements put into place to respond to emergencies.

Finally, please join me in giving thanks to and for our emergency responders and hospital professionals. While you probably have enough sense to avoid climbing on roofs in the winter, accidents do occur. Fortunately, our community is poised and prepared to deal with them. This is worth celebrating.