In loving memory of my favorite Kraut..... Gunther, you will be missed...

Yesterday my Father lost one of his oldest and best friends. My Dad is one for telling stories and almost all of them involve Gunther. In fact, if you know my Dad, you must know Gunther (even if you’ve never met him).

He seemed too young to die. Always lively. The quickest old Kraut I’ve ever known.

For a short period of my life Gunther lived with us. It was a rough time in my life. At a time when I often felt alone, he was there. His listened without judging. His advice never seemed condescending. He gave me confidence when it seemed the world was trying to take all confidence from me.

Yet he was a hard man. He seemed to always be smiling, but rarely feeling. His affection shown through in his “pain therapy”. It’s what he called wrestling. Only usually it was more like desperately trying to defend myself against a very skilled man. It’s strange to admit, but “pain therapy” is a fond memory of the time I spent with him.

I never saw him have an ill intention towards anyone. He was always trying to help, to lift you up. The man I knew was always trying to give what little he had.

He took a job not far from Dad’s house where he worked for many years. I made it a habit to swing by and visit him there. We would spend the time catching up and discussing life. In retrospect the conversations seemed to always lean towards my life or my parents.  He never revealed anything about himself that wasn't directly related to Dad.  Many afternoons were spent talking with Gunther. 

I’m glad I was able to introduce him to my wife. He seemed to like her.

The last time I saw him was shortly before he moved out of California. I’d talk to him on rare occasions after that, but more often we would IM or talk on Facebook. I always planned on seeing him again, but it seems life had different plans.

Gunther will be missed by many. He never had much of a family of his own, but he lived through the families of his two best friends. He seemed to bless all those he touched. He was blessed himself to find his own family whom he got to spend a few short years with.

I’m thankful that many moons ago a little Kraut (Gunther) stood up to a bully (my Dad) and began a lifelong friendship.

I can’t begin to understand what Klaus and my Dad feel at the loss of their lifelong friend. But if how I’m feeling is any indication, there is a hole inside of them that may never be filled again.

Gunther will live on in our memories and in the ongoing stories of my Dad who can tell Gunther stories like no other.

I will miss you sir. I thank God for making you a part of my life and my family.

Survival Training... it's easier than most people think.

Survival.  As a single guy I never much worried about survival.  I rolled with the punches and lived the nomadic life never much caring where I ended up.  I remember sleeping in my car on more than one occasion, waking up through the night to run the engine long enough to bring some heat back to my bones. 

When I was young I was a boy scout.  I had a great leader who taught me some really great skills.  The problem is I grew up and never used any of them.

For the last 8 years I've been wrapped up in Urban Survival trying to keep my head above water, a roof over my families head and food on our table.  In doing so I have further removed myself from the knowledge I once possessed. 

Now I'm actively engaged in a "Survival" course hosted by the same great boy scout leader.  It's a much different experience this time round as I am re-learning with the knowledge of how bad it can get.  My wife is going through this journey with me as we both learn basic skills needed to survive when the benefits of modern day are gone. 

Now this may come from the collapse of our fragile economy or some natural disaster, or simple our car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.  But, the goal is to "Be Prepared".  You never know when the worst will come. 

As we've gone through this course I've been vividly reminded of how unprepared we are.  Good practices which I've known, I haven't followed in years. 

I hope I never have to use anything I'm re-learning, but I'm glad I'm taking the time to do so. 

Survival goals:
- Learn more about the plants of the wilderness
- Spend time camping with the family to practice and learn basic techniques: Starting Fires, building shelters, gathering food, fishing, ect
- Put together and keep at the ready a basic survival kit
- Practice wood widling and net making and trap making so they become second nature
- Ensure my family is trained to survive with or without me
- keep a ready supply of h2o..  you can never have too much water
- take up and practice the art of repelling.. to overcome my fears and to have the know how to use it when needed
- buy a gun (many guns actually) and retrain myself in their safe and effective use.  I plan to waste as much ammo as I can afford. 

I'm sure this list will grow and be more detailed.  this is just the kick-off list.  Some may call me paranoid, but just last year my friends brother went missing in Yosemite and was never heard from again.  The SHTF scenario can happen at anytime to anyone just about anywhere.  Best to be as prepared as you can.  Not to mention, this stuff is fun.  So if you can have fun while preparing for the worst, why not.

God Providence... who would have thought I'd be happy to be stuck in LA for a while longer

Tonight I feel like writing and since I don’t know what I plan to write about, I’ll just wing it.

Life has been busy. My oldest turned 12 and is developing all the bad habits of a pre-teen. My middle child just turned 5 and my little lady will be 4 soon. Winy, overly sensitive and openly rebellious: Gotta love my brood.

For the last 2 years I’ve been actively seeking to “Escape From LA”. Every seemingly good door has been soundly closed. The path out seemed so clear when I started. But it wasn’t to be.

But God has used me for much in that time. I’ve been able to help friends and family in much need of various kinds of support. Everything from planning a funeral to marital counseling; How I fell into these rolls, I can’t say, but God knew I would be needed and ensured I would be here to help. He then placed me in positions I couldn’t have expected to be needed in.

A few more amazing paths God has placed in front of me.

I’ve been given every opportunity one could want from his job. For the next 2-3 years I will be heading up a major restructuring. The real world training this will give me you can’t get from any college. I have the backing and support of not only my Manager, our Plant Manager, and various corporate managers. I am being guided and mentored by some of the brightest and most experienced minds in my corporation.

Of course this means I’m stuck in LA for a few more years. But the opportunities and blessings that are literally falling into my lap are immeasurable.

This year the burden of debt will be lifted as we finally pay off the last of our debt. For the first time in our marriage we will be financially stable with a rapidly growing savings account and not debt looming over our heads. Total financial freedom.

My former Scout master is back in my life and leading me and my wife through basic survival training. At the same time we are leaning towards enrolling our oldest in the Scouts under the tutelage of the same Scout master.

My wife is developing good Godly friendships with the locals. And I continue to be drawn in to various responsibilities in church and among friends.

In short it seems that God wants me right here for a while. Wish I knew why, but I guess I just have to trust that God’s plan is perfect.

I’ll get out of LA eventually, but apparently not yet. At least the weather is nice here.