Of Happiness and Losses

The year 2017 - what a year! There were so many things that happened, so many good and happy moments, but also some really sad ones.

This year, the daughter of my girlfriend was to get married in June, and so we had a lot to prepare. Decoration, clothing, gifts and all - because - like every wedding - it was a special day. So, in spring we went two times to the UK, to buy everything we needed. The second time - in May - we visited the Chelsea Garten Show - my girl's a passionate gardener - and luckily I had the pleasure to go to the London Comic Con. It was a really great experience. It was my first Con in the UK.  I met Gary Erskine - a favorite artist who worked for Marvel UK in the gloryful 90ies, saw the original costumes from the Wonder Woman movie, bought a lot of comics - in short - I had a wonderful day.

Then, finally, the wedding came in June, and it was one of the greatest weddings ever! The weather was great, everybody was happy and everything we organized worked like clockwork. The day was filled with fun, music, laughter, lot of wine and beer, great food, until the sun came up the next day.
Unforgettable.

Also, I bought a new car. We sold our Peugeot 4008 (a white SUV, diesel) just before the Diesel-Affair hit the news, and the prices of diesel cars plummeted. The new car is the future: a shiny black Peugeot 508 RCX Hybrid. How much the future I didn't imagine. Until I saw Blade Runner 2049. When Rian Goslings Spinner crashed, I saw the iconic Peugeot frontpiece, just like on my 508.

Ah, movies - from Blade Runner to Justice League, from Kingsman - the Golden Circle to Thor - a year that was great for the nerd in me. And I didn't manage to see Star Wars - The last Jedi yet.

Sad moments, when you lose somebody happened also in 2017. From famous artists and actors like John Hurt or Roger Moore to two dear friends. One of them was nearly 80 years, an Austrian retired Engineer, whose humor and charm I will always miss. I will drink a whisky in your memory, dear Ernst.

The other one, well, its much harder to write because it concerns the one guy who gave the name of this blog. He was a teacher (his profession), a musician, a philosopher, a nerd, and above all a Texan.

When I met him, a friend of mine asked me if I was interested to go to the great german Comicsalon in Erlangen. He and 2 other guys were going there. Well, I was very interested! This is the European version of the San Diego Comic Con - only a little bit smaller...

One of the guys was Brett. He was incredible funny, witty and creative. One of his hobbies was giving other names to people. His best friend was Captain Collector (he has one of the greatest comic collections I know), and mine was The Cherokee Stuntman. (I don't know why, but the name stuck) He also gave himself a name: the Trade Paperback Kid.

For many years, we went to the Comic convention, and it was always a highlight for all of us.

In the last few years, he left Zurich for Basel, and he started with 2 bands (Captain Ludd and The Jesus Taco). I never heard them live, but some songs are on youtube.

He began writing, traveling and publishing his own stories. He was also very popular at the school where he worked, I heard.

I was curious what he will do next. Always searching, always creative.

And now, just before Christmas, I heard the news that he died, heart attack.
He was just 51.

We all miss him. Verily.

Rest in Peace, my pal. You left a big gap in the life of everybody who knew you. I hope you meet all the great musicians up there, and, above all, go and have a chat with Jack Kirby and all the other comic greats who left the mortal plane.

 The Cherokee Stuntman.