My friend Andy Stephenson. PHOTOS

[KaryninMiami]

51. 7 years- wow. What an amazing time that was- I still think of him often.

We were together in DC at an event - big group of us many from DU-- can't recall which event it was- Will Pitt was there- I think Patty and Senator were there too- maybe Take Back America- have a great memory of a fun dinner at a very long table. Lots of laughs and great conversation. And later that year we were all in Nashville- at the election reform conference--what a wonderful event that was- totally amazing gathering of people from all over the country. I have photos from it somewhere.

And I have these great memories of long, late night conversations with him. And the now famous story about how when they wheeled him in to surgery, he looked up at the nurse and and asked her if she had voted- and she said she had- and his next words, just before he went under with the anesthesia, were "But do you know if your vote counted?"...

I had a surgery a day after he did. In fact, the reason I could not go to Seattle was because I was still recovering. My surgery was not nearly as dangerous or terrifying as his was (pancreatic cancer is about as horrific as can be imagined as is the whipple surgery which is what is the name of the surgery Andy underwent). I knew knew when I went into the hospital was that Andy had made it through however and remember being very relieved. The day after my surgery, my cell phone rang- I was still in the hospital- and much to my shock it was ANDY- I could not believe I was hearing his voice so soon after his surgery- I remember weeping in the hospital bed upon hearing his voice but he made me laugh away the tears. He was so sweet and so loving and very very funny.

I'm sure he is smiling today that we are thinking of him- back at ya Andy! We love and miss you and are so grateful for the seeds that you planted. I also know that he is expecting that we will all keep fighting for verifiable elections and that we remember we are STILL Voting on those damn machines...