I am celebrating a birthday today, and it got me thinking about how fortunate I have been. First, a wife that has helped me in many ways. She edited my writing, did the videos and editing of the TV show that we did on the local station. She was the mother hen on the trips that we arranged for groups to Belize and Baja, Mexico. Been my fishing partner on fishing trips, and some that just weren’t that fun. A have had many great sponsors and advertisers on my TV show, website and Facebook page that have made possible my life of reporting on fishing for over 40 years. I have a terrific new boat sponsor, Mark’s Marine in Hayden, Idaho, that has provided me with a new Thunder Jet Luxor boat. They have worked with me to rig this boat with every feature to make this an absolute dream boat. I have been able to serve my region through work on the original Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement program, the Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Board, and six years as a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife commissioner. It has been a busy journey, and I look forward to every day.