For FishingMagician.com, I'm Eric Granstrom. As a kid, Dad would return from his work as a commercial fisherman in Alaska in late July. There was a brief window of opportunity before he'd head back to logging that we'd have a family vacation to the Washington and Oregon coasts. It also just so happened to be around my birthday. So growing up, I never had a birthday party with friends over. It was always on the road somewhere with sand all around and usually a cinnamon roll with a candle in it. I'm not complaining. I loved those trips to the beach. We'd pester Dad to let us bury him in sand or he'd get antsy and want to take us for a drive. Of course, being a college-educated history major, that usually meant stopping at every landmark for yet another history lesson. Now, as I drive my wife Marion past these same spots, I find myself repeating my Dad's lectures. He worked hard. He was definitely blue collar by choice, even though his education could have taken him so much farther. I'm so thankful for his example. On this birthday, I'll happily celebrate with Dad. Until next time, Good Fishing!