Kelly Ann's Blog

I’m not sure that I ever thought I would have to write a post like this…never in a million years…ever…

So you see the story started in 1994…this cute guy walked into my office in a bank in North Carolina…we talked…he sent me a nice card (I still have it)…his father came into the bank and told me about chatting with his son…I said “tell him when he comes to town to call me”…his father went home called him up and two days later this cute guy called me on the phone…let me mention here…I was in North Carolina and he was in New Hampshire. That phone call started in November 1994 and we talked EVERY SINGLE NIGHT getting to know each other…in February 1995 he came to NC to meet my family…

This night…he told my father he wanted to marry me…my father gave his blessings and gave him advise…advise that Andrew would never tell me…sneaky guy. From February to September we still talked on the phone daily…I left my job, sold my house, packed up one dog (BEST DOG EVER) and two cats and moved lock stock and barrel to New Hampshire.

On September 16, 1995 this happened…

On that day we started a wonderful adventure that saw a new home in Virginia in 1998…

We shared everything together…the loss of family…the welcoming of new family members…new pets…new friends…

You see this guy…the very guy that Iight up my world…he was my everything but he was also…

A brother … a brother in law …. and an uncle

Andrew loved this family…with every cell of his being…to say that he was proud of the accomplishments of this family is an understatement. Andrew could not have picked a better partner for his sister than Jason, a strong loving and caring husband and father. Pam…his love for his sister was fierce and was one of her biggest cheerleader in whatever she set out to accomplish…and oh my hell he always talked about what a wonderful mother she was. Sylvia…he called her his “girlie” and to anyone that would listen he would brag about her grace and elegance…he was so excited to watch her grow in to adulthood and plans were being made to visit her at college. Aaron…or as U. Andrew called him…Double A Ron…watching him come in to being a young man, looking forward to visiting and cheering him on in whatever event he would participate in. Andrew always wanted to be there for this family and to show up for them.

Andrew was also a friend…

Andrew’s oldest and dearest friend…was more than a friend…he was a brother. Andrew was always there for Kenning and Kenning for him. They shared history…they shared so many stories…they shared fun times. Andrew was so happy when we went to visit Kenning in Austria this year…he was happy for me to see Kennings world…but he was also happy to share this time with us.

Neal and Andrew shared soooooooo many experiences…from beer excursions to SciFi Thursday…Andrew cherished the time they spent together…

You know when you click with some people…they are your people…Scott and Leslee are our people…he loved them as family because they are…we share so many memories with them…too many to count. Him and Scott had so many common threads…bourbon, FAA, bourbon, baseball…and did I mention bourbon?

Gotta have friends

Andrew was a great pet dad…

from his girls…

to his boys…

to his kitties…his kindness to animals was endless

Andrew was not just a great husband…but he was an amazing partner…he showed me daily how much he loved me. He was my biggest supporter…cheerleader…whatever I wanted to jump in to he was there to catch me in case I fell. My wonderful introverted husband stood beside me when I would do big events with lots of people…he always said that his goal was to carry my luggage when I hit it big time…our own personal joke. He was my calm in the storm…he was the light in my heart…

So you see…his light is only dimmed because it is still glowing in my heart…while he is no longer on this big round planet we live on he is right in the center of me. While right now the hurt is deep…I promised him I would be okay…and I will…it will take time but I will be okay because he is with me…always in my heart.

This post only shows a little bit of who he was…but I hope it shows the good part of who he was…the kind…loving…caring man.

I will always love you

Your ReggRady