56

It's my 56^th birthday. A list of things for which I'm grateful…

1. My wife, Keirsten. Strong, smart, unstoppable. An incredible mother. She can succeed at anything in life. She is a true alpha. If you are Keirsten’s friend or family, she has your back no matter what. Keirsten makes me a better version of myself…..especially because she won’t hesitate to call me out on my BS. If you want a laugh, ask her what the secret is to our happy marriage.
2. My sons Connor and Keith. Hard workers, smart, determined, kind, perfectly sarcastic and honest. But somehow different from each other in so many great ways. They both make me laugh every single day. I will never be more proud of anything than I am of my sons. Bliss is a day surfing with my boys.
3. My mom. I wish I better understood all of the things my mom has done for me, but some of them happened earlier than I can even remember. She taught me to always go the extra mile for family. That it’s worth it every time. My mom is kind, welcoming, and patient. She will always help friends and family, even if it requires giving up something of her own. The side of me which cares deeply about people comes from her. One of my greatest joys is seeing her smile when my 2 brothers and I are at her home in Ocean City NJ. It’s not a “smile for the camera” smile. It’s straight from the heart.
4. My dad. I just miss him so much. He sacrificed so many things for me to have opportunity. He taught me to work hard, to love my family, to respect people who respect me, and to never give up. He used to say “do what is right, and fear no man”. I loved having him coach me in baseball. I was proud to have him watch me play football. When I was a kid, our little sailboat flipped over….I was stuck under the water-filled sail for a long time. Struggling and clawing, running out of air. Then I felt his hand suddenly pull me to the surface. He saved me that day, and every day since then.
5. My brothers, Scott and Todd. Great family men, exceptional fathers to their sons, and my allies. When Todd, Scott, and I are sitting at Charlie’s Bar in Somers Point NJ drinking a beer, all feels right with the world.
6. The Jersey Shore. It’s a pressure release. A friendship builder. A magnet for family. It soothes my soul.
7. My 2 chinook pups, Dakota and Jäger. When I walk in the door from a hard day, they shower me with unadulterated love. Watching them chase seagulls through the surf at the shore is magic.
8. The mountains of the west. Hiking through Yellowstone or the Grand Tetons with my family and friends is one of life’s great adventures. Mind bendingly beautiful and remote. It is refreshingly dangerous and rugged. Not for the timid, but exactly what my soul needs.
9. The Islandman Triathlon. This is not a long race. A 1/3 mile ocean swim, 12 mile bike race, and 3 mile run. But seeing it on the calendar scares me a little every year (especially the cold deep dark ocean swim)…..and I have found that fear helps me make better diet and exercise decisions than any self-help book ever could.
10. This quote: “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.” – John Wayne
11. Surfing clean chest-high waves in August in Avalon NJ
12. The incredible group of friends I get to have. They are some of the most humble, yet most successful, people I have ever met. They believe in hard work, family, and fun. They are brutally honest, and ridiculously funny. I know I am lucky to have all of them in my life.
13. A bison burger and a cold beer at Geyser Point Bar, Disney Wilderness Lodge
14. A spring or fall day at the shore, completely alone.
15. A cold swim in Wyoming’s pristine Jenny Lake after a long hike through Cascade Canyon.
16. That feeling when I pick up our little boat from winter storage in May. The 1 hour bay cruise to our marina with a cigar makes me feel like anything is possible.
17. All of you. Thank you for being part of this crazy fun ride of life.