Viva Naughton

Yes I went back again to Viva Naughton and the Ham's Fork--this time with my oldest daughter Hannah aka Beezer. She is going back to St. George on Sunday to go back to school, so it was a chance for us to take a drive together, and see the rocking Wyoming country side.

No one can say that Wyoming doesn't know how to turn the heat down in the winter; damn that place can get cold. I can only imagine what its like when it really gets cold--ouch. Before we went to Viva Naughton Damn, to check out the river, we stopped in town for a bit in Kemmerer. That place is a zoo--for deer that is. Wow I have never seen deer so unafraid of humans. We turned off on a little street off the main road, and there were a bunch of doe's walking right behind Hannah. We saw a little spike sitting down in the snow looking all sad. As we turned the corner, I saw why. There were big bucks walking around with not a care in the world.

I was taking pictures of them from the car, and wondered if they would spook once I opened the car door, which usually frightens the deer away. They could care less, even when I walked toward them. I was half wondering if I had something they wanted to eat if they would let me pet them. Who knows, I may have been able to get a bucking buck ride--grab on to that huge rack and giddy-up! I feel confident to say if you were a deer hunter, it would be worth it to check into getting a tag in that area.

We went to the damn at Viva Naughton, and walked down to the spillway. Oh what a beautiful river. I cannot wait until early spring to don the waders, see if the fishing is anything like deer hunting would be. If it were, huge 20 plus inch Browns would impale themselves on bare hooks.

Review of 2012

Thank God the world didn’t end. But if it would have, I can say it was one of my best years yet. It brought fame fortune and glory—well maybe that’s not the best way to describe my 2012, but I was a year full of event and good fortune.

To begin with, I celebrated my 25^th anniversary with my Sweet Melissa, commemorated by a Mediterranean cruise. It started in the fabled Venice, made its way down the Adriatic Sea, up along the Mediterranean and ending on a Spanish island. I think it was the only vacation we have been on that we didn’t fight even once. I got lucky to get that woman. As for her, well…nobody said it was fair, sorry I got the better end of the bargain.

I have seen all three of my beautiful girls really develop into themselves. I am so proud of each one of them, not because of what they accomplish, but because of who they are. When you have little children, they are still so open and undecided about which roads they will travel. When they hit the early teen years, they really start making decisions, and they start laying track on the path they will travel. I am proud of the track that each one of my girls is laying. They are each one their own person, with their own style and traits. They all make me proud to be their father. I have complete faith in where they are heading.

It was not without its problems, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. But what was initially identified as stage 4 was reduced to stage 3A which is much better. He’s still not out of the woods, and who really knows how it’s going to play out. But stage 4 is basically a death sentence, and you are treated in a manner that helps reduce your pain and perhaps buy a few precious days. I am working on accepting what may come, because in the end no one is getting out of here alive. But maybe the old man can have at least a few more years here. I love him.

I had a great fall fishing trim. I changed it this year, and did not go with any buddies, and went with just my dad. It was a trip to Colorado—just the two of us. We hit some fabled river: The Frying Pan, The Roaring Fork and The Gunnison. I love all of them, but I broke a personal fish record on the Roaring Fork. The boys at the local fly shop did not believe me when I told then I landed a 27 to 28 inch Brown. My dad was up river with the camera about 50 yards, and I could not trek down river to take a pic. But I yelled to him and held the fish up. I could see his face light up with surprise and amazement. I laid the mammoth on the ground and put his tail at the butt of my fly rod, and his head was about 2 to 3 inches short of the first eyelet. Later when we were back at the truck I measured the eyelet at 30 inches. Who cares what anyone says, dad and I know how big it was.

I cherish my friends, both new and old. I have friends that are in the words of Roger, “better than I deserve” I have been blessed to have met such great people, and to keep them in my life. As the years roll on, and I think of the times spent with them—I go into that nostalgic part of myself. When I see their kids become adults, for example Tom, who’s daughter is now the age when we became friends. I feel the circle of time, and I rejoice in it. Some friends have been lost along the way. Who knows, maybe they will return again down the road.

It was a year with financial prosperity. I worked hard in 2012 and it paid off.

So here’s to a great year. Here’s to 2013 being even better!