And now an open letter from Andrew...
Hello everyone,
So JABB turns 10 today? Congratulations, ladies! That's
great! Since John's not available to represent the J in JABB, I
was asked to say a few words since I'm the A. 0:-) First,
I'm really touched that you all care so much. Sometimes when I
feel a little down, I'll admit I go to onthisside.net and read some of
the very nice things you've written about me. I may blush but I
definitely smile and for that I'm very grateful to you all.
I'll never forget the time I've spent in Dyeland. Everyone there
has done a tremendous job of making me, Adam and Henry feel welcome and
loved despite our AODhood. That doesn't often happen in such a
big way. So thank you. But beyond that I believe JABB does
a great job of carrying on the message "Touched" shared: that death is
not terrible. Beyond this life there's an even more abundant life
filled with the love of God.
I've noticed that top tens are popular with all of you so in
that spirit I wrote the following:
Top Ten Signs You're an AOD
Blessed by JABB
10. You may not be the biggest
Halloween fan but you no longer pout about it because you know that
even if it gives you and death a bad reputation with some people, it
also makes you realize how great your friends are. Especially
when they dress up as more accurate and hopeful depictions of angels of
death just to help you out.
9. Your refrigerator and cupboards are always stocked with
chocolate, ginger ale, delicious baked goods, and great
meals every
time you come back from a long assignment.
8. You accused your friends of being liars and pompous actors and
they still stuck by you.
7. You got arrested
for murder... and your friends still stuck by
you.
6. You behaved in a very unangelic way and shut your friends
out... but they still stuck by you.
5. Whenever you feel a little down someone's there to call you
"lovely" or "Andrewkins."
4. When an assignment has you wishing you could have done more,
there's an entire group of people who will sit with you, even cry with
you, and remind you you did what you could and God loves you.
3. You're very relieved because you know that not everyone thinks
you're madly in love with Monica.
2. You've never been hugged so much in your life, outside of
Heaven.
1. You've
never been happier outside of Heaven than you are now.
So I thank you, each of you, for that. God loves you. So do
I.
Your friend,
PS- I would just like to clarify that I am not an egomaniac that
regularly sprinkles photos of himself amongst his words. While
the words are all mine, you could say this letter has been
LJA-icized. 0;-)
