Andy Stephenson would be 44 years old tomorrow.

[greatauntoftriplets]

The progressive community misses a dedicated activist who used his all-too brief time in this world to make a difference. I miss him for those reasons, and as a dear friend.

:toast: to Andy.

[lcordero2]

1. How is Termite doing?

[greatauntoftriplets]

2. Termite has good days and bad days....

I plan to call him tomorrow, because it will be a difficult day for him.

[GOPisEvil]

7. Please tell him that I'm thinking of him.

:hug:

Yeah...I saw my program today...the date caught my eye. :(

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. I'll tell Termite...

It was so good to have the opportunity to spend time with him when I was in Seattle two years ago. He is another great guy and they loved one another so much.

[troubleinwinter]

65. One of my favorites:

In honor of Andy's birthday today, I wrote my senators and congresswoman AGAIN asking them to support VOTER VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS!

[troubleinwinter]

3. Thanks, greataunt.

Not ONE single day passes without thinking about Andy.

We miss you Andy!

A hug for all of us who miss our friend. :grouphug:

[fooj]

50. In celebration of a passionate patriot...

I will never give up! Ever.

Happy B-Day, Andy! I miss you like crazy. Keep an eye on us, ok?O8)

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[efhmc]

4. So sad. We need people like him. RIP

[benburch]

5. Such a young guy.

Far too young to die.

And far to good to have done to him what those Freepers did.

[meganmonkey]

6. Thank you for this reminder, greataunt

I miss him too, he was an amazing guy :hug:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

8. The fifth recommendation and a toast to Andy.

Miss you, Khephra! :toast:

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Maybe Fitzgerald will hand down indictments tomorrow?

What better way to celebrate Andy's birthday?

[SharonRB]

12. That would be a fitting thing.

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

[KaryninMiami]

47. Exactly! On the Sat. before he died, I read him the Rove leak story-

which had just hit the MSM wires that very morning. He was having trouble seeing (we didn't know it had been a stroke yet) and in spite of the worry we both felt at that moment, there was glee in his response and we giggled together while fantasizing about seeing Rove and the rest of the criminals behind bars.

I miss him every day. It's been a while since I allowed myself to cry about his being gone but tonight I am weepy once again.

He's with us all tonight- I can feel it -- and he is certainly cheering about the chips falling in all directions in the GOP doing what he can from wherever he is, expose the truth about what we all know. Most importantly however, he is feeling the love coming from us all to him.

Happy Birthday my friend! You are loved and you are missed.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. In memory of someone who should have seen many more birthdays...

:cry:

Here's to Andy Stephenson, Khephra, and Nostamj.

[BamaBecky]

13. 9th recomendation & "Happy Birthday Andy"........

I feel his spirit checking in on us...........

Bama

[uppityperson]

14. Happy birthday, glad you were born Andy

Worth celebrating your birth. Peace to you and onward for us.

[The_Casual_Observer]

15. Happy Birthday Godbush&cheney!

[peekaloo]

16. Happy Birthday Andy.

You are still very much alive in a lot of hearts.

:-)

[Caoimhe]

17. Happy Blrthday Andy

You ARE mlssed. Andy was someone l really only met ln a chat room. (his name was coppertop lol) he was a very cool guy wlth a whole lot of ambltlon. he wlll not be forgotten!

[all.of.me]

18. wa-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a !!!! wa wa wa....

happy birthday, andy!

[Nothing Without Hope]

19. A toast to Andy and to Termite too. A toast by all of Andy's friends,

including those like me whom he impacted so strongly without ever meeting face to face, would make a mighty clamor. And if all of those who are and will be affected by his important work joined in, it would shake the place from sea to shining sea!

:toast: :patriot: :loveya:

http://socaldem.smugmug.com.nyud.net:8090/photos/27623351-Ti.jpg
We honor Andy, ourselves, and our children by continuing his fight for clean, fair elections with VOTER-VERIFIED PAPER BALLOTS. We are ALL Andy's brothers and sisters and are strongest when we act TOGETHER. May we never forget this, for it's the key to everything we are striving for.

[Ellipsis]

20. To Andy!

O8)

[applegrove]

21. Andy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We will think of you always!

[Catherine Vincent]

22. Andy was a Libra.

I miss him too. Happy birthday dear Andy. RIP.

[bmbmd]

23. My daughter goes to the hospital

at six tomorrow morning for induction and delivery of my new granddaughter, Hannah Claire Dove. Three great Americans-Andy, my granddaughter, and Dwight Eisenhower-will share October 14.

[understandinglife]

24. Thank you. Recommended.

Peace, my friend.

[sepia_steel]

25. happy bday Andy, you're missed.

Thanks for everything.

[progressivebydesign]

26. Happy Birthday to you Andy. You're still here with us. n/t

[madmax]

27. Happy Birthday Andy

:toast:

[Coexist]

28. that is so sad.

[Pastiche423]

29. Tears sprang out of my eyes

when I read the title of this thread. God, I miss him so much.

As I always ended my comments to Coppertop...

I :loveya:, Andy!


greatauntoftriplets, please direct termite to this thread. It might help him get through tomorrow a little easier.

[greatauntoftriplets]

30. I plan to send a printout to him....

He doesn't spend much time online, does email but not much else. Thanks for your thoughts, one and all.

[Batgirl]

31. I was thinking it's sad that he's not here to witness

the wheels that are now wobbling so furiously on the Chimp's circus trike...but then who's to say he doesn't actually have a ringside seat?

And since those wheels only started to wobble in earnest after Andy's passing, it inspires me to wonder (however fanciful) what the chances are that a particularly motivated soul might find a way to dabble in political activism from Beyond.

[coffeenap]

32. Happy Birthday, friend. I will always miss you.

:pals:

[bleever]

33. Hi Andy.

Now you're over our shoulders, making sure we get it right and don't give up.

:toast:

[Patsy Stone]

34. NNNNGU!

:toast: to Andy.

[SmokingJacket]

35. Happy Birthday, Andy. I think about you all the time...

you were an inspiration.

:toast:

[mandyky]

36. Maybe Andy, Jeff and Khephra will have a bday party!

We lost 3 DUers this year, hopefully they have the ultimate DU Meetups where there are!

[bettyellen]

37. a toast to you all! the last time i spoke with andy, i read to him from DU

because he was finally not well enough to use the computer and he missed hearing from everyone here and lurking and reading you all. he loved the wit and the passsion here and treasured the generosity and love that poured out of this place when he needed it most. there were so many people here he wanted to meet and thank in person. i met him by passing on a hug from someone, and i know andy wanted to share one with many many of you. so allow me to pass one along from andy to you.
:hug:
:toast:

[carolinalady]

38. What happened to him?

I was following the board intensely when he and Bev had their falling out then we moved. my dad died, I got distracted and just recently started reading and posting. I am sorry to hear that he passed away.

[greatauntoftriplets]

39. Sadly, he died of pancreatic cancer on 7/7/05.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=4118376

[carolinalady]

44. That is a shame--a horrible cancer to endure. God Bless him.

[greatauntoftriplets]

45. It was...and he fought until the end... Here is yet another thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3629008

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. And I am sorry about the loss of your father...

Andy fought until the end. He survived surgery and other complications. He is missed by many, many people.

[greatauntoftriplets]

42. Here is another thread. It wasn't always pretty.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3727112

[Aristus]

41. Happy Birthday, Andy.

The greatest regret of my life is that I didn't get to meet you. I dragged and dragged and dragged my feet, because there you were, up in Seattle; I can get there any time, and anyway, it's not like you were going anywhere, right?

I'm sorry, Andy.




I miss you.

[blue northern]

43. He is surely missed

To Andy
:toast:

[kimpossible]

46. For Andy - Long Live VVPB !

A sadly missed Happy Birthday to Andy.

In his memory, may we carry on the campaign for Voter Verified Paper Ballots, to reclaim our democracy!

:patriot:

[hedda_foil]

48. Happy Birthday, Andy!

Remember the year we all found pics of balloons and bouquets to post for Andy's birthday? Was it two or three years ago? God, I miss him.

[IndyOp]

49. Andy -

:patriot:

I am in the debt of an O8)

[porphyrian]

51. Happy birthday, Andy.

We'll get those fucking Diebold machines out yet.

[goodboy]

52. This photo is from the last time I saw Andy>>>

He came here to Columbus to do a teach-in, and attend a little impromptu meetup I threw together at the last minute. This was the third time my wife and I had the honor and pleasure of Andy staying with us in our home. This picture was taken the night before he flew down to Hopkins...

I'm so glad to have had him as a friend...even if it was only for a very short time.

<>

[Senator]

58. Great shot -- Here's my favorite photo

There is also a full sized version should anyone like to have this photo (it's 670k - and you must add the .jpg manually).

--

[greatauntoftriplets]

76. Thanks, Senator...

I've never seen that photo. Andy talked of you quite often.

[coffeenap]

63. Great photo--this is how I remember him--cell phone to ear!!

O8)

[Horse with no Name]

53. Thanks GreatAunt

:hug:
"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemondrops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?"

Happy Birthday Andy.

[PittLib]

54. Happy Birthday Andy!

I have to smile, though teary eyed, at the thought of you.

We are better to have had you, short as it may have been. Much love and gratitude to you and hugs to yours who will be missing you so today. We all miss you. :grouphug:

[mogster]

55. Big McHuge toast to Andy!!

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :bounce:

[Stephanie]

56. Crying now

So sad!

So sad.

[eridani]

57. And yes, Andy, we WILL get transparent elections in this country

Without them, nothing else matters. We miss you so much!

:cry: :patriot:

[loudsue]

59. Andy...We Celebrate The Day You Were Born

And we celebrate the life you lived; a life with a truly noble purpose, a kind and pure heart, with good humor, and the strength, courage and determination of a Warrior.

:hi::applause: O8) Happy, happy Birthday, my friend! :party::toast::beer:

:grouphug: I know you hear us, and you know how much we miss you! :cry:

We're going to expose the Diebold, ES&S & Triad, etc. crooks, and we're going to get our elections straightened out! We'll never give up until we do, and thereafter, we'll never let ourselves get into this mess again!

You, and Nostamj and Kephra just keep recruiting those angels to help us, and we'll do our part!

:loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya::loveya:

[nofurylike]

60. happy birthday, andy over there

:toast:


peace

[Catherine Vincent]

61. Kick for Andy.

[Nothing Without Hope]

62. New Andy BD thread with PICTURES!!! Post your favorites

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5060291
thread title: Happy birthday to the best activist in DU history

[WilliamPitt]

64. Here's my tribute, fwiw

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4144710

[annabanana]

66. Happy Birthday, Dear Andy

[AmBlue]

67. We miss you, Andy

...and I still feel you nudging us. I talk about VVPB all the time now and every single time, I think of you. I have a bumper sticker that says "DEMAND PAPER BALLOTS" and when I stuck it on, I thought of you. I'm pushing DEC and MoveOn leadership people, and when I do I think of you. Please keep on nudging us, dear friend. We will never forget you.

Happy Birthday. :party:

[fooj]

68. This one's for you, Andy!

To dream the impossible dream
to fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow
to run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong,
to love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary,
to reach the unreach able star!

This is my quest. To follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far;
To fight for the right
without question or pause
To be willing to march into hell
for a heavenly cause!

And I know, if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
that my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest.

And the world will be better for this
That one man scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable stars.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:


I miss you, sweet friend. I think about you every day.
:cry:
Help guide us through the darkness. I love you.:hug:

[MiniMandaRuth]

69. I am so honored that he was born in my month.

I never got to meet him... but I hear that he was a great guy.

We all miss you Andy! One day, we'll beat the cons and you can rest in peace.

[tigersumtin]

70. I Just had lunch

with Andy's mom, my grama, and I told her about this post, I told her about the outpouring of love, loyalty, devotion, and friendship, during lunch which we spent with Andy's sisters, she was quiet. After a toast to Andy, I walked my gran ma out the car she squeezed my arm an told me to tell all of Andy's friends, " I love them all, and thanks for remembering him, I is very proud." From myself to all of Andy's Friends, Thank You, its things like this, that make things like that bearable.

[Stephanie]

71. That's sweet - thank you

Give her a big kiss for all of us. So sad for her! Wow what a year she had. Crying again now!

You know, sometimes when I log in here, and I start to type out "Stephanie" - I must be hitting the shift key or something but it auto-types "A_Stephenson" - so weird. I really miss him. Kiss Ted for me too, okay, if you see him?

[bettyellen]

72. thank your grama for us

for raising a dear, lovely son like andy.
:hug:

[greatauntoftriplets]

75. I will send her a printout of this thread....

Just talked to termite and I am emailing it to him. Thanks for being with your grama today, I know she appreciated it.

[Individualist]

73. Here's to Andy

:toast:

[GreenPartyVoter]

74. Miss ya Andy! *blowing a kiss*