Background

Andy Shaef was born on February 25th, 1967, in Ontario Canada. He was brought into this world by two free-spirited and loving parents, Jaime and Paul Shaef whom were two young people riding off the 'flower power' movement of the 60s. For a large part of his infant life, he would move around with his parents on different 'hippie' excursions all across the country and into the USA without much care or structure. Eventually they would settle down back in their hometown of Thunder Bay, taking refuge with Jaimes mother; Grandma Bella - a well off old widow. The young couple found some struggle with the newest addition to their troupe, as the weighing responsibilities of raising a child would prove to be more work. Andy would be a product of his environment, his loving parents instilling their kind nature into him as he grew. He idolized his parents and the level of compassion they showed to others. His grandmother Bella would be a beacon of love for the young boy, spoiling him and taking time to teach him whilst his parents were away, leaving Andy with her for weeks at a time as they continued on their 'spiritual' retreats. Grandma Bella lived well off in a large stretch of forest land in the outskirts of Thunderbay in a great big home, where the young child was homeschooled, also providing Andy with miles of natural playground where he would often spend his days running through the dense greenery, further pushing his love for nature. He would live a bright and happy childhood. However happy he was, this wouldnt last forever. Years of structureless learning and absence of his parents, Andy became somewhat of a problem child. Often pushing the bar, limit testing everything he could. The growing pains for Grandma Bella were  becoming too big for her to handle on her own, the decision to enroll him into school was made in 1977. From the first day, Andy struggled in school, peers often picking on him for his non-standard way of thinking and unusual looks, being branded a weirdo. This pattern caused Andy to spiral into confusion—he was always taught to be kind, but it seemed everyone outside of his family was so bitter and cold. Growing into his teens, Andy would have a drastic shift in attitude. Tired of his parents leaving without him - reflecting on the old days when he was carried along, he was tired of the school where people treated him as an outcast. He was exhausted from the mental strain of trying to fit in where he simply could not. Whenever his parents would return, the mood would not be the same as it used to, once where things used to shine bright was sadness and gloom. The visits would often turn into arguments from his grandmother supporting him, as his parents indirectly treated him as a burden; Bella would scold Jaime and Paul for not taking responsibility, usually ending up with the pair taking their leave. No matter how much he cried or begged, they simply would not take him with them. The visits would grow fewer and further apart as the days went on. Time passed, and Andy would become more distant from his surroundings, tired of not fitting the mold that his environment expected of him; his mind always looked to the horizon. He was growing into a young man now, yearning for more. He would drop out of school in his senior year and take to the workforce; a local logging company in Thunder Bay would take him on, sending him all across the province—something that was exciting for Andy. This job would give him the sense of adventure he was looking for as he moved around. Despite his grandmother's worries, she accepted Andy's wanderlust, being no stranger to this type of behaviour; taking after his parents more and more with each passing day. Andy would learn all the tricks of the trades from his peers, his outdoor nature making him an exemplary employee. He would work tirelessly, distracting his mind with busy hands, keeping a hard focus on making enough money so that he one day might be able to leave. When Andy reached manhood, he was a more stoic version of his former self; he no longer took the teasing from others and was always ready to defend himself or others that could not. He was a man now and was trying his best to figure everything out his own way. Fortunately for him, an opportunity would find him. In the year of 1993, on Andy's 26th birthday, Grandma Bella would give him a gift. Two tickets: one for a one-way flight to California, and the other, an economy class ticket for the boarding of Evercrest's, Silver Meridian rail cruise. Knowing her grandson best, Grandma Bella had been preparing for this for a long time, using a good portion of the wealth she had left. She knew how badly Andy wanted to travel the world, he needed a break, and with tickets in hand, he might finally get that chance. Gratefully, Andy would accept the tickets; and prepare for an adventure of a life time. He would set out a few days later, flying out to Los Angeles California.