We’ve all learned new terms over the past several weeks that will now be in our vocabulary for some time such as social distancing and “elbumping” (heck, we aren’t even doing that anymore).  As I write this newsletter, I sit in my home office which I use from time to time, but never to the extent I am now.  As I look around, I’m constantly reminded of the filing and the dusting that is long overdue.  Honestly, I’m looking forward to cleaning it up.  I’ve actually taken on a household project every single day.  Some days the projects are more ambitious (think bathrooms and closets), but others are small.  Regardless, I feel a sense of accomplishment in doing this at both my home and in my office at work.  Who knew I would look forward to cooking each evening?  This too shall pass…

When I was given the opportunity to go to Argentina for my first dove hunt in the “promised land,” I jumped at the chance. I had always heard about the wonderful experience out in the field shooting birds until your shoulder can’t take it anymore. There were so many added benefits that surprised me as well: grilled meats and vegetables for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; an unlimited supply of Malbec; and a great upper-body workout that was much tougher than being in a sweaty gym. Getting back to a smoothie diet is now a welcomed change.

Wow, what an exciting time to be a member of NASGW. Our organization is really taking some major steps forward to position two-step distribution at the forefront of the shooting sports industry. In Las Vegas last week, we announced the recent acquisition of CLX and the upcoming integration with our SCOPE platform.

Can you believe it is already the end of 2019? This year has flown by. I sincerely hope that you all have had a wonderful Holiday Season. It is a busy time of year for all of us with parties, family get togethers, sporting events, year-end tasks for our businesses and planning for the new year.   Lastly, it’s time to get one more piece of dessert in before the inevitable diet of 2020 begins.

This time of year, we can’t help but count our blessings. Thanksgiving brings us together with family and friends to reflect on what really matters in life. Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday. One of the reasons may be that the weather finally turns cool(er) in Louisiana, as Fall is the season of change. Holiday time brings out smiles, laughter, family gatherings, and of course, cooking. I can’t say that my kids have memories of waking up on Thanksgiving morning to me cooking hot, fresh muffins or to a pumpkin pie baking in the oven in time for our feast.

The 2019 NASGW Expo is in the books, and the foundation is laid for 2020. What an exciting week on so many levels. We hope you all had a great Expo. I want to thank everyone who joined us in Orlando. And wow! What did you think of Alison Levine? The comments we’ve heard have all been outstanding. The message that stood out the most was, “Just because you take a step back, doesn’t’ mean you’re going in the wrong direction.” How true!

Comfortable shoes?  Check!  Briefcase?  Check!  Calendar, appointment schedule, paperwork and electronics?  Check!  Mouse ears?  Check!  That’s the start of packing my suitcase for Orlando with maybe the exception of the mouse ears…..and perhaps I’ll throw in some shoes that aren’t as comfortable as I’d like.  But I will be ready and I’ll be excited to greet all of our fabulous industry peers at the show and in our favorite watering holes.

As summer comes to an end and the fall season is peaking around the corner, many of you have begun attending college football games, and kids are back in school. This means numerous trips to crowded Wal-Mart or Office Depot stores for school supplies. Perhaps you’re moving your son or daughter into a new dorm or apartment. I just did it. Twice. With four trips to Target and five trips to Bed, Bath, and Beyond behind me, I feel that my girls are as settled as they could possibly be.

I even tried something new, and it definitely wasn’t by choice. I was charged with putting my daughter’s shoe rack together, which came in a box with a thousand pieces. Not my thing, but I knew I had to do it. Cussing the entire time, I finally accomplished what I set out to do, and it wasn’t so bad after all. In fact, I did a pretty good job. While this simple task may be routine for many of you, it was new for me, and I passed with flying colors despite being reluctant even to try.

A water bottle. Granola bar. Sunglasses and a hat. Kleenex.  Cash and a credit card. Cell phone and headphones. And don’t forget a few business cards in case you meet someone on your hike. I’m all prepared for my morning exercise. It doesn’t take long to get ready because I’m in a routine of grabbing the same stuff day after day. I just wish there was a fanny pack that had a cup holder for my morning decaf too.

As the shooting sports industry hits our normal summer slowdown, it’s a great time to reflect on the interesting year we are experiencing. As our recent monthly report from NASGW’s SCOPE™ program shows, it’s not all doom and gloom. Yes, firearm sales are slower than previous years but as we dig a little deeper, we continue to see strong handgun sales as well as ammunition. In year three of the Trump administration, the politically fueled gun grab is in the rearview but there is another election year on the horizon. Will our industry see a similar scenario that we saw in 2016? We shall see.