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Bits and pieces as I remember them:

First saw daylight in Pontiac, Michigan. Missed most of the 5th grade with rheumatic fever; all I remember is that I got to stay in bed and watch television all day. Seemed cool to me.

High school: Lived for the weekend and for cruising Woodward Avenue in my parents' yellow Olds 442. Gas was cheap; you could disconnect the speedo cable and drive forever. Played guitar (still do) and listened to music on a week-day radio show called Gambit on WDET FM.

College: Went to Michigan State, studied hard and did things I can't tell you about now. Saw the Mike Hoover short film, Solo (1972), and immediately decided I wanted to do that mountaineering thing. Bailed out of Michigan in 1973 and headed for Oregon. Spent the next five years climbing in the pacific northwest. Burned out on climbing in the late '70s and decided I wanted to write about food and wine. Picked up an MBA at Portland State along the way.

Avoided responsible work until 1989. Got hooked triathlon and mountain bike racing in the '90s; played a lot of golf too, but that made me suicidal... :-)