Chapter 1, Time Since Summary and Analysis

This book is a memoir, detailing both the history of a man and a lost way of life in the American West. He begins by describing Montana. This takes readers into the Northwestern Midwest. His family had a place to live, which he refers to as a cabin. He was there with his parents. Ivan's parents were experienced at herding sheep. Of course, this is still done today, but for many Americans it is regarded as a "lost heritage." He begins to share old family stories that came to him via his parents. The type of shepherding that they conducted was nomadic, herding from one place to the next, like cowboys.

He describes his father as a big, strong, handsome man of the country. After this, he contrasts the look of his father to that of his...