Well folks, I have been writing the outdoor column for the Conroe Courier for 25 years this month and it has come time that I close the door on this portion of my life. So this will be my final column in The Courier.
This was a hard decision to make and was not The Courier or my wish to reach this point. But I guess you can say it was the choice of the Good Lord, because I have been slowly losing my eye sight now for the past seven years. My vision has finally reached the point where I am totally blind in my right eye and have severe Glaucoma in my left eye and am legally blind.
With the aid of modern computer technology, I have been able to modify my computer so I can still read the monitor. I also use modern software that enables me to dictate to my computer and it will type out what I say. It will also read back what I have written to help me, but I am left with one large void. I can no longer have the necessary hands on use of hunting and fishing equipment. Also I cannot drive anymore, meaning I can no longer meet regularly with the people in the outdoor industries as I once could.
Decades of experience has taught me that today there is far too much information that I receive daily by way of notices and news releases from manufacturers and public relation companies, than I can keep up with and on which I can followup.
The rubber meets the road for me at the outdoor writer organization conferences and trade shows to which I belong, speaking with the owners and staff at outdoor specialty shops, shooting ranges, on the water fishing and around numerous coffee pots at marinas and coffee shops where outdoor types gather, which I can no longer visit.
It has been my mission to put forth the actual facts as I see them about the products, services and habitat as they relate to the great outdoors. I learned a long time ago that news releases may sometimes be presented by verbiage professionals, with a large helping of smoke and mirrors and the integrity of a snake oil salesman, wrapped around a real product that actually has some good points and not so good points. It is not their inclination to tell you anything about problems that can occur with the product.
My hope has always been to wade through the cow pies surrounding a given product or service and present what I found in my column. Of course there were times when my own bias was in there too, but I always tried to state that fact also.
I have really found it difficult to warm up to the many so called “new and improved” products that are in reality just smoke and mirror renditions of products dedicated to appeal to those with the inability to look to history and what is already available before trying to go forward. That is an example of my own personal bias, but it has the foundation in facts, personal observation and experience, not hype.
I can tell you for a fact that of all of the thousands of stories and pictures that I have had published over the years in newspapers, hard copy and internet magazines, across the country, my association with the good people at The Courier has been one of the most pleasant and enjoyable. All of the people I have had dealings with have been professional, reasonable and I must say that I miss each one from the past and will those present now.
To all of the people who have read my column over the years, I would like to say “Thank You”! I hope I have been able to enlighten, entertain and sometimes make you smile.
To those who have come up to me in stores, restaurants and other businesses throughout Montgomery County over the years, you made my day. I offer you my sincere appreciation for the kind words, the smiles on your faces and for taking the time to say hello.
Each of the organizations who have invited me to speak with your group I once again can only express how much I have enjoyed our discussions, your questions and naturally the good meals that forced me to have to work harder to keep the waist size of my pants under control.
To the people who expressed their feelings and opinions about subjects I have addressed in my column over the years by mail, email, on my website, by phone, and even printed in the letters to the editor, “Thank You”! Thank you for the positive input and any negative criticism as I strive to always be open to the opinions of my readers and learn something from all contacts and comments.
So neighbors, it is time for me to close. In parting I ask that together we must continuously battle the evil foe in order to maintain our outdoor habitat and playground, and forever “Demand” our rights under the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution of the United States!
