For Andy....farewell my friend.

[greatauntoftriplets]

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

[annabanana]

1. hugs

(((((greatauntoftriplets)))))

[Karenina]

3. On angels' wings

:grouphug:

[Rick Myers]

2. big hugs

thank you!!!

[MissWaverly]

4. Good Bye, Andy

Thanks for everything, we were better people from knowing you and thanks
for all your hard work fighting for election reform.

Miss Waverly

[Darth_Kitten]

5. that's beautiful

:hug:

[merh]

6. You will always be in my heart, dear friend.

:loveya: You will not be forgotten. :loveya:


:hug: Hugs for you greatauntoftriplets :hug:

[BeFree]

7. Hey Andy

We miss you. And we always will.
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. We love you and miss you Andy, and we will keep up the good

fight in your name.

Rest well, my favorite election reform fighter. :patriot:

[In_The_Wind]

9. You will be in my heart forever ~ Andy

((((((((( O8) greatauntoftriplets )))))))))

[Booster]

10. Goodbye, friend. May God speed. Thanks for all your hard work.

[Ladyhawk]

11. Goodbye, Andy.

I wish I'd had the time to get to know you better, but I will cherish what memories I have. You were truly a saint on this earth and I will miss you.

-Ladyhawk

[xxqqqzme]

12. gonna miss you.

gonna keep up the fight. We will make you proud.








Damn, this is so awful. it totally sucks!

[Boredtodeath]

13. Good-bye, my friend

Our little hour,—how swift it flies
When poppies flare and lilies smile;
How soon the fleeting minute dies,
Leaving us but a little while
To dream our dream, to sing our song,
To pick the fruit, to pluck the flower,
The Gods—They do not give us long,—
One little hour.
Leslie Coulson

[latebloomer]

14. Peace and love to you, greataunt

This is a loss to everyone, but for you it is a very personal loss.

:hug:

[nonny]

15. Goodbye Andy --- my friend

[shireen]

16. Andy

i'll keep my promise.

[undeterred]

17. Goodbye Andy

You will be missed and not forgotten.

[helderheid]

18. I am so sorry for your loss

You were such a wonderful friend to him. He was so lucky to have you.

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. Forever on our minds and in our hearts.

Good bye, Andy. :hug:

[UrbScotty]

20. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and perpetual light shine upon him.

Amen.

[fooj]

21. My tribute...

"I Wish You Peace"

I wish you peace when the cold winds blow
Warmed by the fire's glow
I wish you comfort in the, the lonely times
And arms to hold you when you ache inside

I wish you hope when things are going bad
Kind words when times are sad
I wish you shelter from the, the raging wind
Cooling waters at the fever's end

I wish you peace when times are hard
The light to guide you through the dark
And when storms are high and your, your dreams are low

I wish you the strength to let love grow on,
I wish you the strength to let love flow,

I wish you peace when times are hard
A light to guide you through the dark
And when storms are high and your, you dreams are low
I wish you the strength to let let grow.
I wish you the strength to let love flow,
I wish you the strength to let love glow on
I wish you the strength to let love go on. -Eagles


I sent this to Andy when he was first diagnosed. It gave him comfort. I'm hoping that it will do the same for us.

Peace.

(((((((((((((sending our love to Andy))))))))))))

O8)

[merh]

24. For Andy

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~


:loveya: :patriot: ANDY :patriot: :loveya:

[no_hypocrisy]

22. Good-bye Andy.

I'm at a loss for words. (Head shaking)

[savannahana]

23. for Andy ~ tsalagi blessings, three variations

(as he travels with us and among us)

We draw thorns from your feet.
We walk the white path
Of life together.
Like a brother of our own blood
We love you.
We wipe tears from your eyes
When you are sad.
We put your aching heart to rest.

~*~

(as he travels homeward)

Happily may you walk.
May it be beautiful before you.
May it be beautiful behind you.
May it be beautiful below you.
May it be beautiful all around you.
In beauty it is finished.

~*~

(as he finds his spirit's home)

May the warm winds of Heaven blow softly on your home,
And the Great Spirit bless all who enter there.
May your mocassins make happy tracks in many snows
And may the rainbow always touch your shoulder.


~*~

with our love,
Andy, unali.

[merh]

40. (((((hug)))))

:hug:

[merh]

53. ((( hug ))))

:hug:

[BamaBecky]

25. Voter Verified Paper Ballots............

We will fight on....guided by your spirit!

Be at Peace Andy..........

Bama

:grouphug:

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[coffeenap]

27. Embracing you on this special day. nt

[Vinca]

28. Dear Andy,

If Rove does the perp walk I hope you can see if from wherever you are. It seriously sucks that you aren't here.

[lvx35]

29. Good bye andy

Thanks for being an inpiration. You are in my prayers!

[Janice325]

30. Dear Andy,

I know you'll be watching over us.
We miss you, but you will always be in our hearts and minds.
Peace be with you.

[demodonkey]

31. I don't think we really have to say Good-By to Andy....

...his spirit will ALWAYS be with us.

That smart, funny, fearless, STUBBORN redhead -- there's just no way will he ever leave us. I know I will never ever enter a voting booth again without thinking of my friend Andy Stephenson. And if there is anything on God's green earth that I can do about it, that voting booth damn well will have a VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOT!

:hug: Marybeth

[bobbieinok]

32. Andy...thank you for your dedication; we will never forget you

[Catrina]

35. A golden heart stopped beating

Tired, working hands at rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.

Rest in peace, Andy ~

[Gemini Cat]

33. Andy's patriotism and who he was will live on

in our actions and his spirit will live on in our hearts forever.
He was and will always remain a hero!

:hug:

[AlwaysDemocrat]

34. Deepest sympathy to all who loved Andy

I remain in awe of his accomplishments and dedication.

[hiley]

36. ...

andy

[ultraist]

37. My condolences to Andy's family and friends...

These two beautiful tributes to Andy from his friends deserve another posting:

For Andy

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/staticpages/index.php?page=20050710095608538

http://homepage.mac.com/benburch/PhotoAlbum6.html

I will never forget how Andy's friends came together and so many here on DU rose to the occasion to help Andy. What a beautiful sight! It was an honor to be a small part of that effort.

I will light a candle tonight for Andy.

[greatauntoftriplets]

38. Thanks all....

(except for one...and thanks for the fast action mods... :hi: )

[EFerrari]

42. gaot

:hug:

[greatauntoftriplets]

43. Back at you....

:hug:

[GardeningGal]

62. Agreed, I alerted as well n/t

[wtmusic]

39. Andy was the best

Working his ass off to do what's right.

Maybe the best tribute is to try to be more like him.

[EFerrari]

41. We love you, Andy

While I'm far away from you my baby
I know it's hard for you my baby
Because it's hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn

Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love
(love can never be exactly like we want it to be)

I could be satisfied knowing you love me
(and there's one thing I want you to do
especially for me)
And it's something that everybody needs

While I'm far away from you my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
Because it's hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn

If there's one thing I want you to do especially for me
Then it's something that everybody needs

While I'm far away from you my baby
I know it's hard for you my baby
Because it's hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn

[applegrove]

44. I always think of this hymn. Fight the good fight with all of thy might:

Fight the good fight with all thy might;
Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy Right;
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;
Life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize.

Cast care aside, upon thy Guide,
Lean, and His mercy will provide;
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its Life, and Christ its Love.

Faint not nor fear, His arms are near,
He changeth not, and thou art dear.
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is all in all to thee.


I'm not religious. But I love this. For people who may have had some connection to Christainity and who were up there in the heavens & soared when it came time to fight.

Fight the Good Fight: With All of Thy Might.

[applegrove]

48. When I think of this hymn - I think of the RAF. And how they flew.

and how close they got to "god". And for my grandfather it was transference from WWI which he was too young to fight (and which his older brothers fought in and were wounded) and WWII which he was too old to fight but fought anyways (and took two nephews - twice removed - under his care and protected them". And the battles Andy fought were really no different. And he was up there...like the rest of they fighters ore the centuries. "So you get so high you commune with whoever happens to be there". And however one sees religion - you are up there and trusting and loving all those you have to love and that is why you fight. Because fundamentally it is totalley overwelming...when it somehow - through politic or war - is put to you that way.. So when my grandfather died in 1983 - that was the song. Out of his whole privileged and loving and opportune life...what he wanted most was a hymn about being a soldier and being "up there" and loving so much about those around him that it was no sacrifice and having it reflected in his own god. About the big words to me today are that "it was a good fight". And it totally reminds my ass about Andy.


Hymn #447
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: 1 Timothy 6:12
Author: John S.B. Monsell, 1863
Tune: "Mendon"
German melody
Arranged by: Samuel Dyer, 1828

[greatauntoftriplets]

49. That is very nice...

and appropriate. Andy was Lutheran. He always described it as "Catholic lite. All of the guilt, none of the saints".

[applegrove]

50. And it is such a privilege - to be that way. And put it into aciton. If

you are religious or not. Message being "oh my gosh - you are lucky to love so many people so much that you could fight for them" .

ANDY!

[EFerrari]

55. Hey, those saints come in handy sometimes.

:)

[Just Me]

45. I believe Andy knows why I've avoided this thread ALL DAY LONG.

Andy doesn't want me to be sad. He wants me to be powerful in my own way,...just like he is.

I love you, Andy. :hi: See ya' when I get there. :hug:

[proud patriot]

51. Yes I think you're correct

"Andy doesn't want me to be sad. He wants me to be powerful in my own way,...just like he is."

[EFerrari]

46. DUers: If you haven't signed, here's the link to Andy's guestbook

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x384281

[blue4barb]

82. Andy, you're my inspiration. Hearts together. Love you and miss you.

[EFerrari]

47. kick

[Pobeka]

52. Farewell Andy. We will miss you, and continue on ...

... in the strength of Andy's memory.
:grouphug:

[bobbieinok]

54. poem I've always liked...hope it's appropriate here

"High Flight"

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

[EFerrari]

58. Lovely and perfect.

[Booster]

85. I love that poem. The following poem was on the service

announcement of one of my best friends, and I think it may also be appropriate here:

God saw you getting tired,
and a cure was not to be,
So He put His arms around you,
and whispered "Come to Me"
With tearful eyes we
watched you suffer,
and saw you fall away.
Although we couldn't bear to lose you,
We could not ask you to stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hardworking hands laid to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
that He only takes the best.

God bless you Andy. Rest in Peace.

[KoKo]

56. The Sun will shine warm upon your face, Andy...and your activism will

live on... Another of our DU'ers whose gone beyond who will always be with us. I won't say Peace to Andy...because he's up there rabble rousing making sure the Angels get their proper votes. Which is ...as it should be.

You Go, Guy!

[SeattleGirl]

57. greatauntoftriplets....

....I hope it will bring some comfort to you to know that Gentry Lange, who spoke after WillPitt, ended his time with the Irish blessing.

:loveya:

[yewberry]

59. They kind of both did.

I think it was Will who included the whole thing. It was kind of sweet, actually, to have them both come to the same metaphorical place.

Sorry I didn't get to meet you, SeattleGirl.

[greatauntoftriplets]

60. How nice that it was done twice....

I did ask Will to do it. It meant a lot to me. I am Irish and Andy was a bit as well.

[EFerrari]

61. It would be nice for us who couldn't go to get a recap.

But, that may be asking too much today.

[yewberry]

63. If you'd like

I could post a little series of events/observations. Or PM one.

I wish my scanner was hooked up; I'd like to send you the memorial program.

Whatever you'd like.

[greatauntoftriplets]

64. Please post....

So many of us want to hear. Thanks.

[yewberry]

69. I'll try.

I'm balancing feeling too presumptuous and feeling like I want to help soothe some hurts.

Okay. Will do.

[greatauntoftriplets]

71. Thanks.

It's not presumptuous at all, since several of us have asked who could not be there. We want to know....

[EFerrari]

66. Anything would be great. But it must have been a long day

for everyone, so take your time.

Thank you.

[coffeenap]

67. Yes, please, if you don't mind. Many of us have been thinking

of nothing else all day. Thanks.

[demodonkey]

72. Yes, please post. Many of us were close to Andy but couldn't be there.

Thank you :hug:

[SeattleGirl]

74. You are correct.....

There were so many things said, so mant wonderful stories, etc., that I thinkmy brain is still sorting things out. Thanks for reminding me, and I'm sorry I did not get to meet you, tofunut.

I will also post some things about the memorial, but as I said, I'm still sorting through things.

[Catherine Vincent]

65. My condolences to Andy's family....especially Ted.

Rest in peace dear Andy.

[Raksha]

68. Goodbye, Andy.

We will never forget you.

[AuntPatsy]

70. May you find peace and contenment throughout eternity...

Goodbye Andy..

[NancyG]

73. Andy, I have enjoyed you, laughed with you,

cried with you and cared for what happened to you. I have woken up to logon to see how you felt or if you'd learned what the problem was or how the operation went. You became a part of my life, yet I never spoke or wrote to you. I simply read about you and you were in my heart, and still are. It is truly amazing how important people become that we simply read about. May you be feeling the joy and love that so many feel for you.

Nancy

[EFerrari]

75. kick

[Robbie Michaels]

76. Andy, Thank You For Everything

We'll carry on in your memory. God bless.

[nicknameless]

77. Andy was an amazing treasure.

That we only had him on loan, is a source of great sadness.

greatauntoftriplets, I know that you were a dear, wonderful friend of Andy's, and I am deeply sorry for your very personal loss.
:hug:

[Sparkly]

78. "It seems the good they die young...

I just looked around and he's gone."
Kephra, Nostamj, and now Andy.

May their wisdom guide us still!

[nicknameless]

83. .

:cry:

[loudsue]

79. Good-bye, my friend.

:cry:

[juajen]

80. A very sad day today. I wish I could have been there.

I still can't believe we lost him. I'll remember him always, for his contribution to our progressive cause and for the happiness we all had coming together to make sure he got the treatment he needed, and for his grace.

I'm so sorry greatauntoftriplets, beth, fly, will, termite, and everybody else I forgot. God be with you all.

[Generic Other]

81. What a beautiful Irish blessing

Goodbye Andy. We hardly knew you.

[The_Casual_Observer]

84. A truly good person. Probably too good for this world.

Rest your weary soul.