Hola, amigos. Whassup? I know it's been a long time since I rapped at ya, but a lot of shit's been going down in the world of Big Nate. I been really busy, thinkin’ about life and where I’m heading. See, I been runnin’ canoes here at Massanutten resort for over a year now, and I’m really starting to feel like I’ve found my life’s work.

I think a lot of it was shaped back in my childhood days in Cooks Forest, Pennsylvania. It’s home to a beautiful state park, but most importantly where I found my calling was molded into the wild cat I am today. I’m not sure what it was at first that attracted me to river life -- whether it was the choking exhaust fumes from the late model Chevy Econoline Vans, or the satisfaction of grabbing a 100lb. canoe, throwing it over my head and attempting to carry it up a muddy hill without slipping. I couldn’t even narrow what particular trip it was that inspired me to take Parks & Recreation as a major in college. But I do know that I wouldn’t change a thing.

I tell you, there's nothing like it. The fresh mountain air, the great bluegrass-festival-like atmosphere, and coasting down the Shenandoah with a sixer of Pabst tossing out the Rapala in search of a few smallmouths. Not to mention the chicks! Man, there's almost more tank tops at work than I can handle. I practically cream my drawers every time I go in to work!

Many say, "Why do ya do it Nate? This is no kind of direction for a spunky feller’ like yourself." Well, I take a lot of pride in safely transporting hundreds of pubescent children and families back and forth from the ol’ launch pad. It also takes me back the days of yore, bouncing on the wooden benches on an early June morning, waiting to have a cold Milwaukee’s Best and seeing what Gretchen Mason had under that tank-top. Not to mention the anticipation of that first stop where I would have a chance to sneak of into the woods and enjoy a smoke from Mother Nature. Little did I realize back then that the tools I learned while racing to safe ground in our aluminum lightning rod with a thunderstorm looming and Dustin Duffee passed out in the front of the canoe would one day come in handy.

Some say this is no life to raise a family with, but I know I will get by with a little help from my friends. I’m thankful for Dr. Colantonio for never punishing me for partaking in senior skip day or any other occasion that I felt the longing for the white rapids of the Clarion River. Some day I will get to be the boss around here and earn up to 8.25 an hour, can’t beat that! Until that comes, I’ll leave ya’ with some advice from REO Speeedwagon – "Just keep them fires burning, hombre. Keep ‘em burning. Peace.