Thanks fellas! It was a good time for sure. I believe that walking stick does carry some good mojo. One of the cool things we got to experience was four woodies that have taken up residence in our creek. We quietly watched them from about ten yrds away for a few minutes while they did their thing. None of my kids have ever seen wood ducks that close before. It was a double blessing for me as I not only got to enjoy watching the most beautiful ducks to ever take flight, but I got to marvel at how my two youngest sat there in the brush in quiet awe of nature's beauty. I was proud of how their woods skills were progressing up until my son had an epiphany and in an excited voice asked, "Dad! Can we eat em!?!?". Well....end of the quiet moment. Those woodies busted out of there in a hurry. I thought my daughter was gonna push my son in the creek, she was so mad! Lol!
Bill, I got a mixed reaction when I got home without my beard. My wife and oldest daughter both said it was about time. The three youngest thought that I should've kept the beard. I guess you can't please everyone. Thanks again for the kind words! Josh