This is the story of my life as I recollect...

    My life started in Birmingham, Alabama in 1970.  My father (Ron) was in the Navy, and my mom (Janice) stayed home with me.  We moved to Auburn soon after I was born and then to Norfolk, Virginia  where I grew fond of my first pet Teg (a cocker spaniel).  My brother (Alan) was soon born, and my dad was released from the Navy.  I don't remember much from this time frame since I was so young.  I do however remember the move to Idaho when I was only 3 years of age.

    We took the long trip to Lewiston over several days.  My uncle Kevin helped us and drove our blue car with me as a passenger.  I remember the car, the car breaking down, a rest area, and messing my pants...not necessarily a great moment in my life.

    We lived in Lewiston for a short spell, and then moved to Moscow in 1974.  My dad was working on his Masters in Forestry, and my mom had her hands full with my brother and me.  We lived in a green house off of D street, one that is still there today.  I remember sledding down this huge hill as a youngster, what is truly nothing more than a 20' stretch of grass.  

    In 1976, my parents bought five acres on Moscow Mountain.  There were five families that created the place I call home...the Porters, Jones, Haggadorns, Newells, and us.  We had to put in the road, power, and our wells (ours gave us around 1 teaspoon a minute for the first 10 years) etc.  It was pretty rough, but us kids in the neighborhood made the best of it.  Alan, Ethan, David, Troy, Little Brian, and myself (I was Big Brian) had all sorts of outdoor adventures.  

    My parents always encouraged my outdoor play and bought me whatever they could.  I skied, shot archery & my BB-gun, hiked, camped, and fished.  There was nothing I looked forward to more than our annual pilgrimage to McCall every 4th of July.  We would go to our secret fishing spot and catch Brook Trout to 6 pounds.  I would obsess about the trip to the point that my dad would quit reminding me about it, saving him the headache of having me ask "is it time to go yet?".

    Money was tight, and my dad was finishing up his PhD when a job in Trinidad, California presented itself.  He took the job and we were off to a different world.  I loved the ocean, but could live without the rest of it.  We lasted 10 months, and were on our way back home...to Idaho.

    I stayed in Idaho throughout the next 15 years.  My father re-married to Susan, and had 2 kids who are my brothers, Patrick and Jared.  I met my wife (Trina) in 1994, and my life certainly changed for the better.  I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in 1997, and we moved to Seattle.  Trina had a great job with Boeing, and I was directing programs at the YMCA.  I quit hunting and focused on fishing for nearly 5 years.  In 2001, we decided that it was time to move back, and for me to further my education.  

    My wife has a great job with Washington State University.  I received my Masters from the U of I in 2003 and have been teaching classes for Recreation Department since 2002.  We are back home, and plan to stay.  We have 4 cats, and no children yet...although we like to think of them as our kids.  I hope I can continue pursuing life in the outdoors for many years to come.  It has certainly taught me much about life and myself.

I hope you enjoyed my story, Brian.