May 6, 2008

• andy was brought to the dreary city of seattle by his father. he had an option to stay back.. with his mom and sister.. and the vast amount of friends that he's gained over the years. but he didn't. deserting his dream to attend college.. leaving behind everything.. he chose to abandon it all for his father.. and come to an unknown city, where he knew no one.. no one but his alcoholic/selfish father.. a place where he had to wonder where they'd sleep next..

  he is an inspiration. i say this with as much heart poured into it as possible. andy is seventeen.. living from hotel to hotel, house to house.. and some nights.. sleeping in their car. i'm choking up as i attempt to describe just how amazing this kid is..

  andy radiates nothing but positivity.. generosity, kindness.. love. we've been attending church together for the past few Sundays.. his father is opposed to him going as he's an atheist but he holds on so tightly to his faith.. a faith that was most recently discovered by him. i invited him out saturday night, a few weekends ago.. he was ecstatic and grateful.. but reluctantly declined.. i pried.. eventually discovering that he had to be his father's designated driver for the evening. basically, andy waits around as his dad drinks himself to an oblivion at some bar.. then drives him home.

  his father reminds me so much of mine. a sorrowful man.. drowning in the mistakes he's made.. silently crying out for help.. but yet his only way of coping -- the only way he knows how.. is by intoxicating himself. i can empathize with andy all too well.. however, he's a lot more loyal than i am. there is nothing his father could do to make him turn away. nothing. his dad is robbing him of a life.. but andy doesn't see it that way.

  last Sunday.. andy, my sister, and i hung out. he wanted us to stop by the restaurant that him and his father worked at so he could prepare us a dish to show his appreciation for taking him around. sushi tempura.. it was scrumptious. his father (the sushi chef) then brought us over a delicious salad and some funky sushi stuff. hah. andy came over to me and handed me a twenty..

  "can you put this in my father's tip jar, please?"

  i looked at him and refused.. telling him that i got it. he wouldn't take no for an answer and told me to take it before his dad saw what was going on. my sister was in disbelief.. as was i..

  i could go on and on.. but he's made me realize that we don't "accidently" meet people in life.. there are no coincidences. they're placed in your life for a reason.. whether or not you see/understand that reason is on you. look a little harder.. dig a little deeper.. listen with a little more heart.. you'd be amazed.

  • 11:53 pm
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