My Flash Memorial to Andy on the Anniversary of his Passing

[symbolman]

I miss Andy. Today is the day that marks one year since his passing, and I wanted to share the Flash Memorial I made in his honor last year when I couldn't attend his services yet felt I HAD to do something to honor this man and all he represented.

Some have seen this, but for those who have not here it is:

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



NOW, go out there and get some Voting Fraud Bills passed, and let's get his Name on at least One of them.

[MADem]

1. It's very good. NT

[symbolman]

2. Thanks

I even wrote and performed the music for it, tho it's recorded badly.. seemed like a pretty song to drop in there, a song called "Evolution", funny, Andy really like my "VoteRevolution" Flash so much that he kept it on his site til the day he died.. what a guy, sigh..

[Nothing Without Hope]

5. You wrote and perfomed the music TOO?? Beautiful, just beautiful

From the first time I experienced this video I was struck at how the accompaniment enhanced without distracting.

Thank you for giving us the benefit of your talents.

[symbolman]

8. Yeah I like to create pretty ditties on the guitar

for people, wrote a song for my Dad's funeral, and for the love of my life, you're spot on, I wanted something that added some dimension to this but didn't distract from the message, thanks..

[Nothing Without Hope]

3. Three still frames from this extraordinary video memorial

which was put together one day after Andy's death a year ago. It's from the heart, it's forward looking, and it will move you.

I wish I could recommend it more than just once.

Three frame grabs - and there is so much more:







Thank you, symbolman.

[annabanana]

4. thanks. .. . . .. . . . n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Will Pitt's eulogy for Andy - for those who would like to know more of

what he was like:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4128638

[autorank]

7. You are a real professional, with a heart. K&R !!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. Even when he was so sick he was passionately pursuing election reform

DUer helderheid found this email from Andy in the mailbox on the day after he had died last year:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4051649
thread title (July 8, 2006): A message from Andy - Support VelvetRevolution

He NEVER gave up. We need to remember this unshakeable determination, against all odds and through terrible difficulties, when we ourselves feel tired of fighting.

[GardeningGal]

15. For anyone so inclined

I didn't know Andy personally, but I contributed for him to get his operation. I like to think he would be urging us to help this along.

Others who did know him can comment and maybe I'm wrong, but I sure thought of him when I contributed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1586986

[Suich]

10. Very nice, symbolman.

I missed this first time around. Thanks for posting it again.

Recommended.

[NMDemDist2]

11. great to see you symbolman! and thanks for the Andy film n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. I hope that more people will post here to share their memories and

experiences of Andy. His legacy is strong and growing.

[EFerrari]

13. Symbolman, watching this flash was the only moment

that gave me any comfort on that day.

I thank you again, for whatever that is worth.

Thank you

Beth

[symbolman]

25. I'm glad that if it did nothing else

but give you that moment of respite from grieving that it was well worth the effort.

You deserved it, and maybe I made it for you and don't even know it :)

That's part of the miracle of muddling through this life, we have no idea who we have touched or what changes we have effected by just Existing, or being kind to a stranger, or doing what we do..

We touch more people than we realise. I'm very glad you felt better, remember that the ones who are gone are not the ones feeling pain, it's the ones that are left behind, when my mother died of breast cancer I was a mere kid, but I was so thankful that the pain for her was gone. In a wierd way that made me feel better, part of the acceptance stage for the living :)

[DistressedAmerican]

14. Fitting. Thanks Symbolman. K&R.

[acmejack]

16. Very, very nice.

You are blessed with great talent, symbolman. Thank you for creating such a moving tribute to our friend.

[greatauntoftriplets]

17. K & R. Thanks for bringing this back, symbolman.

I remember when I was visiting Andy and Termite, Andy's car was in the shop so he and I used Termite's pickup. Termite worked the late shift at their Subway store and so slept during the day when Andy and I were out. It worked well.

Anyway, at one point, Andy parked the truck too close to a pylon and the passenger-side rear-view mirror came off. Later that day we were driving east through the Cascades to Roslyn, WA, where Northern Exposure was made. (An aside...what a neat town, we even ate at The Brick.) There was a gravel truck up ahead of us on I-90, travelling at a healthy clip. Just as Andy was commenting that the truck didn't have a tarp over its load as was required by law, some of the gravel came flying and punched a hole in Termite's windshield.

Andy felt like shit, but Termite took it all in his stride. He wasn't happy, but stayed calm. Andy paid to have the mirror replaced and the trucking company (we got their info) paid for the windshield repair.

[ThatsMyBarack]

18. If I had cried...

....I know I'd never stop. Thanks fo sharing, symbolman. :cry:

[EFerrari]

19. kick for Symbolman with my deepest gratitude.

:kick:

[symbolman]

20. Kick for Andy

and a special thanks with gratitude to those who stood by this man when many of us couldn't.. there is nothing more wonderful during a death than to be surrounded by people who love you, even if you feel so bad you want to crawl behind the furnace and die, or are snappy - from what I heard from these Saints that stood at his side, Andy didn't complain, and died with dignity. A good death if you can call death good.

Dead is natural, a part of life, but disease is the wild card that makes or breaks us as it eats it's way to the core of our soul and taxes us. Many people I know who have survived cancer (and there are many in my family, some who didn't) are better people, more in tune with the universe, more serene and appreciative. SOme I know who are on their deathbeds are the best they will ever be in their life, you can feel the Universe turn just by looking in their eyes or holding their hands.

Don't know if anyone has read Kubler-Ross, she's the woman who created the 5 stages of Grief. She was raised in a concentration camp, literally as a child, and spent thousands of hours sitting next to people who were dying. I bring this up because she wrote a book called "On Death and Dying" that should be required reading in college at the least. It is actually an Affirmation of LIFE. And it gives you the tools you need to cope with all the things in our life that cause grief, from the loss of a pet to the dissolution of a marraige, or paring between people.

SHe said that from what she witnessed that those who had been "bad" in life, screwed people over, practiced graft, disrespected folks, etc, etc. were the ones who died kicking and screaming. Those who has lived a fulfilled life, who had done their best, had nothing to be ashamed of usually died Peacefully and with no regrets, complete acceptance.

I just gave this book to my cousin, he'd lost his brother to the exact same cancer as Andy had, lost three family members in less than a year, and this cousin of mine had a lobe of a lung removed recently, only to find out that there's still cancer raging in his body, settling it looks like in his prostate gland. I was glad to see him these last few weeks while travelling the mainland, he brightened up when I walked in the door, and our whole family, at least what's left of that side laughed and laughed, sharing stories of us as kids right there on the farmland owned by his family our whole lives - the older ones, Aunts and Uncles, cousins long gone.

It was good to see the color in his face, and I held him close off to the side and told him he wasn't goiong to die, that I'd worked in institutions and had developed the gift of looking into someone's eyes and knowing pretty quick if they should start making plans for leaving the earth.

Meanwhile I hope he reads this book, I hope you all do, it will change your LIFE for the better, and may assist you when it comes your turn for that most personal experience of your own death - it may sound morbid, but saying, "Have a nice death" has just as much validity as saying "Have a Nice Day", less of a cliche, but tho we don't know when or how it will happen. To learn to enjoy every moment, to spread goodness, what kind of footprint we leave behind is good for us all.

I know in my heart that Andy may have had one thing bothering him on the way out, that he hadn't done enough. Well, goddamn it, he sure as hell did PLENTY and now he is rememberd for that as well as his humanity.

And like in the flash I personally believe that we don't GO anywhere.. that we go EVERYWHERE, so he's still here, if you have eyes that can see.

A Toast to him, and to those that helped him into the great Everywhere, who loved and nursed him - I raise my glass to all of you.

[EFerrari]

22. I hope everyone reads this.

:toast:

[Nothing Without Hope]

24. That's beautiful, Symbolman. It clearly comes from the same mind and heart

that produced the animation and the music on the day after Andy's death.

Thank you.

Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about his religion. Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and of service to your people. Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide. Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, or even a stranger, if in a lonely place. Show respect to all people, but grovel to none. When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself. Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision. When your time comes to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home.
–Tecumseh

[greatauntoftriplets]

26. Lovely tribute, symbolman...

:toast:

[DemReadingDU]

21. Very nice tribute, Thank you

[Nothing Without Hope]

23. Here's Bill Bored's post from last year on his own experience of being

inspired with Andy's insightful effort to fight for free elections, even if it meant supporting a bill written by a Republican. A striking story, and it shows how he always thought outside the box, always looked for creative, practical solutions that many people might overlook:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x385327
thread title (July 24, 2005): I wanted to write something about Andy.

[Nothing Without Hope]

27. kick - let's all keep this where people will see it and have their

chance to see this beautiful video.

[ultraist]

28. K&R

:kick:

[Nothing Without Hope]

29. Here's a thread from Andy's birthday last Oct 15 - with PHOTOS

There are a number of photos in the opening post and throughout the thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5060291
thread title (October 14, 2005): Happy birthday to the best activist in DU history

This was about three months after his death. As you can see, the love and remembered laughter were running high.

[symbolman]

30. little kick

for th late crew :)

[Nothing Without Hope]

31. ...and another

Good night, symbolman. It's late here on the east coast. And thanks again for what you've done - it's greatly appreciated by a lot of people.

:grouphug:

[uppityperson]

32. thank you. that is all, just thank you.

[Nothing Without Hope]

33. Be sure to read the Andy story told us by VelmaD in her current thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1587447
thread title: To honor Andy

[EFerrari]

34. Kick

[greatauntoftriplets]

35. Saturday morning kick....

:bounce:

[laylah]

36. What a beautiful tribute,

Symbolman! :cry: You are sorely missed, Andy.

[troubleinwinter]

37. Thank you again, Symbolman.

[Jo March]

38. Thanks.

I couldn't watch it all. I had to turn it off - not because it wasn't good but because it's hard to believe that Andy is truly gone and wn't be coming back to help with the cause.

Democracy lost a great friend. America lost a true patriot.

[Wilms]

39. Thanks.

[fooj]

40. I lit a candle in memory of Andy yesterday...

This is truly a wonderful memorial, Symbolman. Thank you.:hug:

[Nothing Without Hope]

41. Kick - Andy was afraid he would be forgotten. NEVER!!!! n/t

[leftchick]

42. well now you went and made me cry yet again.

thank you symbolman. That was just beautiful!

peace,
lc