Derek Gauger
My brother, my friend. You have known me longer than anyone else. You’re my biggest music fan and always find eloquent and meaningful words for any of my creative milestones. We’re the only one’s who truly get our brand of odd humor and laugh so hard that we can hardly breathe, causing sore abs the next day!
Our closeness started after we both had been gone for several weeks during one summer, you at camp and me on a backpacking trip. Then we went to the Lake Geneva conference after being apart. Mom couldn’t go, so she sent us with an acquaintance from church, 6 of us in all in a land yacht Lincoln. We didn’t connect with our car mates, and created our own little bubble in 2/3’s of the front bench seat for that long drive. We’ve been tight ever since.
I admire many things about you, but here’s the root of it. You’re fearless in going after what you want to do and dive in head first, all in.
If something doesn’t work out, you move on to the next thing with no excuses and no regrets. Everything is a learning experience that gets you to the next level.
Doesn’t matter if it’s skiing, sailing or starting a business.
You wanted to sail from Vancouver to San Diego in deep open water? Figure it out and do it. Kelea need some major interior work? Figure it out and do it yourself. And not some amateur patch job, but full professional craftsman quality.
Multiple business ventures didn’t go as planned? Figure out how to use that experience for the next thing.
You don’t take the safe or easy path, which is why you’ve accomplished so much.
Throughout all the challenges, I never have heard you make any excuses or blame anyone or outside forces. Yes, you’ll unpack why something didn’t work, but that’s only to learn and get better.
You should write a book on this as it needs to be shared. Or I’ll write a book about your experiences!
I’m proud of you and honored to have you as my brother. I know mom and dad love us for who we are, and are most proud that we have such a strong bond. I miss you being so far away, but know that we will always pick up where we left off the next time we get together.