A View to a Knifing: Epilogue (6/19/2011) in Keeping Safe

Following my last previous White Raven workshop in Anchorage, I was reading the Anchorage Daily News of Sunday May 22 2011. While scanning the obituaries, I saw the following notice:

"Wiltern L. Bryan Jr., 54, was born in Alaska March 5, 1957, and perished May 5, 2011, in Wasilla. He served his country from 1974 to 1975 in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked for the Laborers Union and Local 302 Operators/Engineers. He was loved by so many who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Tara Contreras; father, Wiltern L. Bryan Sr.; his sister, Ms. Nancy Estes Bryan; brother, Randy Simmons; and lifelong friend, Jerry Wilborn. A memorial will be Saturday at 3 p.m. at [a local veterans' club hall]. All who knew him are welcome to join in this celebration of life."

Hmmm... "perished" is an interesting choice of words.

What's more interesting to me now, as I type this entry, is the fact that my Impact Model Mugging training held its own so well against Wiltern Bryan's Marine Corps hand-to-hand combat skills. If I'm not mistaken, hand-to-hand combat is taught to every recruit in Marine boot camp.

It's been 6 years and nearly 4 months since that assault on February 21 2005. Still no nightmares.

I took the Impact Model Mugging Men's Basics course the weekend of October 18-20 2002. The course is offered sporadically by Impact Bay Area of Oakland CA, where I took it. Other chapters may offer the Men's course as well, and all chapters offer the Women's Basics course.

I highly recommend it.

Notes: --------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey stranger, I'm a suited instructor with Impact Bay Area. I came on long after you took you Basics class. Like you, I earned my living on the road-but as a process server, not a cab driver. Also like you, I was attacked by a group in my early teens. I'm proud to carry on with the work you found healing, and hope to offer that opportunity to ther strangers. Be safe. 5/17/2012 11:21:49 PM