December 11, 2008
From ~ Ian Miller (Granite City, IL)
Cousin Drew,
Wow, you came and went extremely to fast. At first i couldn't even sit down and begin to type an entry. But I think now I'll give it a shot.
But where to begin? We had grown up only six weeks apart, so lets start from our early childhood and some of the things I will never forget like... Hiding from grandma in my house so we wouldn't have to go to pre-school. Building the deck onto our house. Racing up Aunt Janet's basement stairs to see who got to open their Christmas presents first and then letting all the fathers and uncles put together what ever we had and "testing" it out before we got to play with it.
And then about 7 years later we were getting in trouble in St. Louis skateboarding, camping, rafting, and jumping off cliffs and the "Devil's Back-bone" without a care in the world. I will also never forget how fearless you were for being so young. Always pushing me to jump off those cliffs and to get on those big rollercoasters. I was always the panzy out of the two of us but I'm glad i had a cousin like you to toughen me up and push myself past my limits.
And when I think about our most recent years, they really aren't much different, only difference is we both got a hair-cut, grew a little bigger and a little less hyper. We still ripped open our presents like we were 4 years old.
You will be greatly missed Andrew, not only by myself but by everyone you touched. It seems like everyone you knew or met you had put some sort of impact on their life. I not only know this from stories but from a life experience.
You are now up in heaven with the greatest capenter of them all. But one more thing before we part I thought you might like to hear that everyone enjoyed your favorite meal after your service. (Fried chicken and mashed potatos)
Drew and I hope you are waiting at the gate for all of us when we arrive. Oh and make sure that before we all get there that you tell grandpa fuhrman to lighten up a little bit. I'll see you soon.
I love you
Cousin,
Ian Miller