I don’t like to post about myself. This blog is about the birds, but occasionally exceptions must be made, and this is one such occasion …

16 months ago a young couple in the middle of the Pandemic when none of us really understood how lethal Covid-19 might be … rescued me on the Lester / Amity Trails. It was October of 2020 and I had collapsed while trail running. I do not know the names of the young couple who supported a 65 year old gent such that we could hike down to the Lester trailhead, call 911, and get an ambulance. By helping a man who had collapsed, logic dictated that given Covid-19 they were risking their own lives. Thank you for the gift of life.

I had a genetically misshapen heart valve, and my Garmin showed I was on the ground for over 30 minutes. Today, after five surgeries (including open heart) and an additional five heart procedures, Essentia Health published a video of my story. Thank you … (video link for email subscribers).

Here is a photograph of me and my brother … a long term Covid survivor. We are both working are way along the recovery road. This winter, I have even been able to cross-country ski the Lester / Amity Trails (where Hoot lives) including its 250 elevation gain (five miles in duration). The photograph was taken last November (yes … I am still in shorts). We are having a laugh over our weekly medication boxes.