Most years, we columnists prepare (what we think is) our biggest, best, most touching piece of the year, and we unveil it for you on Christmas Day (if we have a column scheduled for that day).

The column that appears in this space next Saturday, I’m sure, will deal with the holiday. Experience has shown, however, that on Christmas Day, “newspaper reading” is somewhat low on the agenda for most folks.

Therefore, consider this your Christmas gift. Read it, then do me a favor: Take a moment to stop, reflect, and appreciate the sacrifice so many are making for the rest of us.

When you’re done, perhaps you’ll choose to hug your kids, or your wife, or your dog, and to realize how good we’ve got it.

Steve Campbell is a Brewer native. This story is his, in more ways than one.

He’s living it … and he also wrote it.

Steve is a husband, a father, and works in the mortgage field. He also owns the Thomas Rod Company, and for a price (if you have to ask, you can’t afford it) he’ll build you a bamboo rod so beautiful you won’t care if you ever catch another fish … almost.

Campbell won’t be home for Christmas this year. He won’t be home to “enjoy” our spring thaw, nor the opening day of fishing season.

He has other commitments to fulfill, you see.

And I asked him to share a few holiday thoughts with you.

Here’s what Staff Sgt. Steve Campbell had to say:

“John Holyoke, friend and fellow outdoorsman, asked me to write a few words when I had time about some of the things I miss about our great state, and what I will be looking forward to when I come home next fall,” Campbell wrote. “The list is long, but here are a few that stand out.

“First and foremost, the biggest thing I missed as an outdoorsman this past fall was being able to take my 13-year- old son Patrick on his first moose hunt. He was a lucky lottery winner this year, and we had big plans for him to shoot a moose. We spent many days planning, and scouting the district he was selected for, and were closing in on his Sept. 27 start to the hunt, when on Sept. 1 my Army Reserve unit was activated for service in Iraq.

“This was a huge disappointment for me to not be able to go with him on that hunt, but service called and here I am. I had already been picturing how we would talk about the hunt for years and years to come. What a thrill that would have been.

“Luckily, one of my closest friends, Shawn Spellman, is an avid hunter, as well as Patrick’s sub-permitee. He was going to get to be Patrick’s “Head Guide” for my son instead of me. While Pat didn’t end up filling his tag, they certainly put a great effort in. Pat had a great time on the hunt, and will have those memories to keep forever.

“Second on the list of things I’ve missed, was just being able to take my son out during the regular hunting season. It is a thrill to take him out in the field, and be able to teach him all I know about hunting and the outdoors in general. It’s great that Patrick has an interest in hunting and fishing. I’m proud to be able to guide him.

“We have two great bird dogs named Aimee & Moxie, an Elhew English Pointer and a Large Munsterlander, respectively, that we take out on hunts for grouse and woodcock.

“We also do some duck hunting in October as well. I’m sure my dogs will be missing our walks in the woods this season too.

“These duties were passed on to another close friend, my brother-in-law, Arnie Bouchard. He took Pat out this season and they had a great time. Mostly I just wanted to make sure Pat had a chance to go out and hunt this fall, so an entire hunting season isn’t missed because of me. It’s important to keep kids interested in the outdoors.

“The third thing I missed this fall was being home for the Red Sox drive to the World Championship. I am an avid Red Sox fan as well, and had promised my son back when he was 8 that if the Sox ever make the World Series again, we would go to one of the games. As my luck goes, the Sox did make it, and I was in Baghdad.

“So that we didn’t BOTH have to suffer, I bought tickets for my wife Patty, and Patrick to Game 2 of the World Series at Fenway Park. They were able to see Curt Schilling’s dominance of the St.Louis Cardinals in a game that will be talked about for a long time.

“So, you see, I have missed a lot since being here. And those were just the big things.

“Fall in Maine is just my favorite time of year, and there are so many things I think about every day that I miss now that I don’t have it for a while.

“I miss the colors in Maine. Any colors at all. It is very drab here. No beautiful green trees and no fall foliage. I miss going out with the dogs in October on a crisp cool fall day. I can almost feel, and smell the air there when I think about it.

“When I was a teenager and couldn’t wait to leave Maine to see the world, my father always told me that someday I would be glad to come back and live here. Well, I have long since learned that was true, but it really has come to mean so much more since I have been here. Knowing that life is just going on back home without me makes me miss it that much more.

“Come next spring, I will be thinking about fly fishing. Those early season dips into an ice cold stream looking for a hungry trout or salmon. Getting ready for the traditional opening day breakfast at the Penobscot Salmon Club, of which I am currently the chairman.

“That breakfast is a treat for me to be a part of. Just listening to guys like Charlie Colburn talk about the old days at the club makes all the work worthwhile.

“Next summer I will certainly miss my trip with Jay Darling to Rick Warren’s camp on the Upsalquitch River in Canada. Rick has been gracious enough to have allowed me into his camp the past six years in a row. It will be hard knowing I am breaking that streak. I just hope those guys will hold a spot for me the following year.

“As you can see, I will have a lot to think about over the next nine months that I will be over here. I hope to be home before hunting season begins next Oct. 1 if all goes well.

“Meantime, please take advantage of all the outdoor opportunities that Maine offers. There is so much that we all take for granted when we live right in the middle of it all. Next time you are out walking in the woods, take a second, and stop and just listen.

“The sounds of the birds and the rustling of the wind in the trees is the ‘peace and quiet’ I miss.

“Best of luck in your outdoor adventures in Maine.”

This week on “Going Outdoors”

As announced last week, the NEWS and ABC-7 have teamed up to offer you “Going Outdoors,” an outdoor segment I’ll host each Monday on the station’s 6 p.m. newscast.

This week’s segment will give you a few outdoor gift ideas, and we’ll show you a gotta-have-it ice fishing contraption you’ve got to see to believe.

Hope you choose to tune in.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.