Saturday, October 16, 2021
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Andy and I spent many days together for the past 11 years. I have been reflecting on some fun memories with my buddy who always had a smile when he saw me and a true joy in his heart that made him fun to be with. One Friday evening he and my dad and two neighbor children, Mike and Stephen, went to a golf course and we played 9 holes together. Beginners at golf tend to get quickly frustrated, but not Andy. His attitude was that each shot was another chance for him to hit a good one. I took him to a Baltimore Ravens game against the Detroit Lions. He was excited to go, even through it wasn’t to see his team the Eagles. We parked in a downtown garage as the rain steadily fell. We faced an early challenge from he rain. We put on our raincoats and began our mile walk across Baltimore’s inner harbor to the stadium. The rain fell steadily against our faces and the water ran down our cheeks, down our necks, under our raincoats, and into our shirts. As the game began, the rain stopped but we were soaked. We looked as if we had jumped into the harbor on our way to the game. Andy loved how wet we were and enjoyed the entire experience. He showed me that being together was more valuable to him than being comfortable. He loved playing me in video game basketball as his ability at gaming was far beyond mine. During many games he would allow me to catch up in the score. Later on, as he faced more physical difficulties, I would match his pace to keep the game close to the end. In both scenarios, the games would be exciting with both of us yelling and screaming at the television. He loved the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. One year, I set up an AM radio with a long antenna for him so he could listen to the playoff games that were not being televised on network channels. During the time period he needed assistance walking, well I don’t know if we took more trips together to the Under Armor Outlet Store or to Subway, but usually our trips were to both. When we hung out, our discussions involved me listening carefully to his advice on technology products like phones, games, roku, Netflix shows and movies. I recall quite fondly that on December 15, 2015, that my son, Allen, my wife and myself, all went out to the Allen Theater in Annville for the premier of the new Star Wars movie, the Force Awakens. Andy needed assistance walking at this point, so I parallel parked out front of the theater and we took our time and went in for the 10 pm show on the day the movie premiered. He was soo enthusiastic and happy that we went on the day it premiered so that he would not risk hearing or reading spoilers online. The next few years required me to travel to Williamsport to visit with him. He would always be very happy to se me. We would watch shows, talk and he would often have me tidy up his room and always had me run out for drinks and dinner for him. Even in that difficult situation, he would fill the room with laughter. He would tell me his opinion, in a very humorous way, about different people who lived around him and about his selections for dinner. Even while in a difficult situation, he would find laughter, kept his humor, and loved and trusted in God. December was a huge month for Andy. December 9th was Kidney Day, December 23 his birthday and the 25th Jesus’s Birthday. One year, we talked and he decided to combine all 3 celebrations for one present. Around Kidney Day, I delivered a 4K HD television to his room that he was delighted with. It included a 3 foot floor stand which held the television in line with his line of sight so that he didn’t strain his neck. I had made may advance calls to get permissions to have the stand and the tv installed in his room. This required coordinating installation of a security cable into a wall to hold the stand in place if it were ever to be knocked over. Some time later, he even gave me back a Warriors tee shirt that he was afraid would get lost in the laundry and I promised him I would keep it safe. Andy’s gift and legacy to me is that I was able to watch and experience how he made people happier than they were on their own. This was directly because of his ability to make them laugh and smile. Andy faced many medical and physical challenges and difficulties over the past 20 years. He faced all of them with determination and trusted that the Lord would help him and give him strength. Andy actually left us all one lasting challenge. Do you make the people in your life happier because of knowing you?
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