Happy Birthday Andy

In honor of Andy’s 17th Birthday (December 3) this edition of A Hard Way to Learn will highlight a few of the reasons why I love this kid so much.

When Andy was a little boy, he would match his socks to whatever outfit he was wearing. If the shirt had a green stripe and a yellow stripe, he would make sure he was wearing one green and one yellow sock.

In first grade, Andy insisted on wearing a tie to school. He asked us day in and out until we finally gave him one of Tom’s old ties to wear. We were certain that this would only last a day but we were wrong. He liked to dress up – his job was school and he wanted to be prepared.

Throughout the day, you will hear Andy humming, whistling, or singing a song.

He invented his own sandwich. It is disgusting so I will not list the ‘ingredients’ but he invented it in elementary school and will still make it to this day.

He likes Tom Petty, the Beatles, the Boss, Melloncamp, Queen, and Aerosmith.

He gets dressed-up to take his finals. He still wears a tie but his socks are both black.


He prays in public. He will lead a prayer for an injured teammate or say the blessing over a meal.

He hates when the party is in his honor.

Andy will go to social functions alone. He is fully confident that once he gets there he will find or make a friend. He always does.



When we were in a car accident the doctor ordered us to remain home for a week. The last day we were together Andy prepared a breakfast and served it to me in bed. He told me it was because I spent the week taking care of him. He had just turned 10 years old.

He loves his friends and will do anything for them.

He loves when his brothers and sisters come to visit him.

Andy makes me laugh at least once a day.

Happy Birthday Andy!