April 2021 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES

W YOMING

One last ride

WILDLIFE

VOLUME 85, NUMBER 4 * APRIL 2021

By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor

Some of my best memories are vehicle
rides with my dad. Most were to-and-from
our favorite fishing spots, beginning in my
childhood and spanning into adulthood.
My dad introduced me to the
outdoors, mostly camping and fishing.
He instilled the passion I have today
for being in Wyoming's wild places,
especially the pursuit of trout in the
many streams that flow through the
Wyoming Range.
During my most recent visit with my
dad, we went on our final ride together.
I knew then that it was our final
trip, and we took the time to reminisce
about our time in the outdoors. We
talked about how when I was a kid we
came upon a young black bear at the
head of a small creek while fishing. We
talked about how I ran away as fast as I
could when I saw it. The only thing that
stopped me from running was my dad,
who was laughing because the bear was
just as scared of me as I was of it, and it
ran in the opposite direction.
He remembered some of the big trout
we caught on numerous creeks, how he
made me wash his truck in the middle
of a small creek because of all the dirt
and mud it had on it from our numerous
drives on dirt roads. He talked about
how he once yelled at me to get my
golden retriever, Snyder, out of a creek
as a beaver lurched from under a bank
toward my unsuspecting dog. Snyder
came out of it unscathed.
The reminiscing was bittersweet.
Long story short, my dad has dementia.
Over the last month or so it started to
overwhelm him, me and the people
closest to him. As his only child, I had
to make the toughest decision of my
life - admit him into a nursing home so
he could get the care he needs and make
sure he's safe. I found a home for him in
Evanston and have made plans to transfer
4 | April 2021

State of Wyoming
Governor Mark Gordon
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
President Peter Dube, Buffalo
Commissioner Gay Lynn Byrd, Douglas
Commissioner Ralph Brokaw, Arlington
Commissioner Richard Ladwig, Manville
Commissioner Kenneth Roberts, Kemmerer
Commissioner Mark Jolovich, Torrington
Commissioner Ashlee Lundvall, Powell

Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director Brian Nesvik
Deputy Director John Kennedy
Deputy Director Angela Bruce
Chief of Fiscal Greg Phipps

Chief of Wildlife Richard King

Chief of Fisheries Alan Osterland

Chief of Services Eric Wiltanger

Magazine Staff
Editor Tracie Binkerd
Associate Editor Robert Gagliardi

Creative Director Patrick Owen

Administrative Assistant Meg Frost

Wyoming Wildlife (ISSN 0043-9819) is published monthly (including the November calendar issue) by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Periodicals postage
paid at Cheyenne, WY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster, please send all
changes of address to Wyoming Wildlife, P.O. Box 469001, Escondido, CA 92046.
Printed in the USA. COPYRIGHT 2015 BY THE WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Bob Gagliardi holds a nice cutthroat trout caught in
southwest Wyoming. (Photo by Robert Gagliardi)

him to his hometown of Kemmerer as
soon as a spot opens.
The day of our final ride was a
Monday. I explained to my dad the plan
numerous times prior to that dreaded
day. At times he seemed fine with it,
others he was defensive and scared, but
more often than not, he couldn't grasp
what was coming.
We started with breakfast at one of
the cafes in Kemmerer. From there, we
got in his truck and made the 50-mile
drive to Evanston. His anxiety grew and
I answered his questions for what seemed
like the millionth time.
It was fun and painful to reminisce
about those outdoors memories on
the drive, but it came to an emotional
end when we got to his new home in
Evanston.
The drive back to Kemmerer was
quiet and lonely. What I wouldn't give
for one last ride with my dad.

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April 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2021