Let's make this birthday one to remember.

79 years old (Born on January 21, 1946)

Happy Birthday, Gretel Ehrlich! May your day be filled with more warmth than "This Cold Heaven," and may lightning never strike twice—once was certainly enough for a lifetime. Your incredible journeys through Greenland's icy landscapes have inspired countless readers to embrace adventure (and perhaps invest in warmer socks).

From the poetic beauty of "Islands, The Universe, Home" to the gripping honesty of surviving nature’s electrifying surprise in “A Match to the Heart,” you've shown us how life's unexpected moments can become timeless stories. Here's wishing you another year full of extraordinary travels—and fewer shocking experiences along the way!