March 2022 - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES
WYOMING
WILDLIFE
VOLUME 86, NUMBER 3 * MARCH 2022
State of Wyoming
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
Governor
President
Vice President
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner
Peter Dube, Buffalo
Gay Lynn Byrd, Douglas
Ralph Brokaw, Arlington
Richard Ladwig, Manville
Kenneth Roberts, Kemmerer
Mark Jolovich, Torrington
Ashlee Lundvall, Powell
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director
Angling and exploring Wyoming's outdoor spaces is motivation for the author to recover from shoulder surgery so
he can enjoy these type of activities sooner than later. (Photo by Robert Gagliardi)
Help in the healing process
By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor
Many of us enjoy the outdoors for
independence and a sense of personal
satisfaction. Whether it be a hunting
or fishing outing or a hike around
Wyoming's vast and diverse open
spaces, there is a lot the Cowboy State
offers that soothes the soul. There's
a sense of toughness, pride and for
some, machismo, to say you live,
recreate and embrace the way of life in
this great state.
It's also humbling when, temporarily
in my case, those ideas are challenged.
This is difficult to write. Not the
subject matter, but the actual strokes at
the keyboard because I only have the
use of one arm. Surgery to repair a torn
rotator cuff and other damage has made
everyday life more of a challenge, least
of which hand-pecking my keyboard
like a chicken eating corn.
Surgeries are nothing new for me,
but shoulder surgery was. It brought out
a vulnerability that at times was difficult
to accept and deal with. Nothing about
this was life-or-death, but for someone
who embraces toughness, pride and
independence this latest fork in the road
was going to be tough to navigate.
4 | March 2022
Or so I thought.
When I realized basic things like
eating, sleeping, bathing and getting
dressed were a challenge, pride and
ego took a backseat to make room for
something else: a willingness to accept
help. Fortunately, I had someone near
and dear to my heart get me through
all that - and so much more. I didn't
have a problem accepting her help,
which was a significant step for me as
a person - let alone my recovery. I realized
accepting help was the easiest way
through the initial stages of recovery
after the surgery, even as my condition
and confidence grew with things I could
and couldn't do.
Even though I have a long way to
go to be fully functional, Wyoming's
outdoors are helping in my recovery. It's
motivation. I have fish to catch, trails to
explore, camp sites to find and dogs to
throw sticks for. I plan to be ready for
it all, and I can't think of a more fitting
reward for putting in the work to get
there.
Another lesson learned through all
this: Wyoming's outdoors are never
taken away from you. Once you're
hooked, it's always with you in some
way, shape and form.
Deputy Director
Deputy Director
Chief of Fiscal
Chief of Wildlife
Chief of Fisheries
Chief of Services
Brian Nesvik
John Kennedy
Angela Bruce
Greg Phipps
Richard King
Alan Osterland
Eric Wiltanger
Magazine Staff
Editor
Associate Editor
Creative Director
Administrative Assistant
Tracie Binkerd
Robert Gagliardi
Patrick Owen
Yolanda Pacheco
Wyoming Wildlife (ISSN 0043-9819) is published monthly (including the November
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SERVING PEOPLE
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March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2022