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It hardly seems possible that another year is quickly drawing to a close. Earlier today, as I looked in the folder on my computer's hard-drive where I keep my newspaper and magazine articles, I was reminded of an article written by either a Pioneer Press or Star Tribune staff writer that celebrated her 500th column a couple of years ago. I recall thinking at the time I read that article that 500 columns was a pretty big deal. I mean, that represents about 10 years worth of stretching the brain muscle to make weekly deadlines, week in and week out.

Well, while I had that folder opened, I thought I'd count the number of columns I've written thus far for the Chisago Press. My total is probably not precise, but I arrived at a number somewhere in the neighborhood of 185. So if the Press continues its charitable ways and keeps me around awhile longer, I should pass the 200 mark in a few months.

I can see now how the number of columns can grow and sort of sneak up on a writer. Every week requires you to write something a bit different, so in a sense it never seems like a weekly chore. I guess I'm at something of an advantage in that the Press affords me all sorts of freedom as far as what I choose to write about. That's about as much as any writer can hope for. They really have been quite liberal-minded over the years and taken more than a few leaps of faith with regard to what I've written in the past. And for that I am truly thankful.

There is no doubt that some of what I write is highly arcane and silly. I try to balance things out with useful outdoor information from time to time, but I know for a fact that if I were forced to write my columns devoid of any humor, imagination or inventiveness, I seriously doubt I'd be sitting down at this very moment to hammer out yet another column for this week's deadline.

One of my favorite fly-fishing authors, John Gierach, whom I had the pleasure of meeting a couple of years back, said something important that I always strive to keep in mind. He said, "I write the stories as well as I can because it's my chosen craft, but also because I know they'll eventually replace the actual memories. You write what you remember and then remember what's written down." If you really think about that, you realize how truly profound that statement is.

Like Gierach, I often feel compelled to put down on paper the events of a particularly satisfying or memorable day in the outdoors. Once I write these experiences down, regardless of the passing years or my waning memory, they can be recalled at any time and, in essence, last a lifetime.

Another thing Gierach said that rings true is this: "I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture without actually landing you in an institution." Now that is funny stuff that I can relate to far more than you could ever imagine.

Dan Brown's weekly outdoor column is brought to you by Frankie's Bait and Marine, in Chisago City, and St. Croix Outdoors, in St. Croix Falls, Wis.

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