When I was younger my peers would almost always think of two things when my name was brought up, martial arts and shooting. It was almost as if my name was synonymous with the thought. Fortunately for me, those that really knew me thought of Christianity and comic books as well. Looking back at the younger days, there are few things I remember more than the martial arts and shooting. Is that good or bad? I can’t really say, but it does bring me to some particular memories.

One of those relates to shooting, and it’s not about the sound of a bullet tearing through a paper target. It is the constant emphasis that culture of people puts on safety, and I’m not just talking about gun safety. There were times we would attend classes at military bases, for me that usually meant Camp Perry. As a shooter you have all kinds of responsibilities. One of those was being part of a team and pulling targets for the marksman. One of my most vivid memories is the army medics going up and down the line making sure you had enough water. It was almost always a quart per hour based on the level of exertion and the season. Which brings me to our first topic – avoiding dehydration.

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