After a series of health issues through the fall, I lost my dad on the 3rd of January.

No apologies for my absence, because I was doing what I needed to be doing, but I do feel you all needed to know I haven't abandoned the forum.

Dad taught me to fish, and we spent a lot of time fishing for just about everything that swims in the waters of Indiana and Kentucky. Because of that, some days it's kind of hard to visit fishing sites. But some days it's the best therapy.

The day before he passed, they served fish at the hospital, and we had laughed together about a fishing trip where coons got into our cooler and ate our mess of cleaned fish while we were helping some friends set up their tent and unload their boat. A bit sobering to realize that of the five of us who ate bologna instead of fresh fish that night almost 40 years ago, only two remain. Hell, it's sobering to realize I can remember something that happened 40 years ago!

I just hope I've been able to provide my kids with the kinds of memories Dad gave me.