Hannah said something while she was here. She said the more she was getting to know Endi better, and the person he had become over the last two years while he’s mostly been gone, the more she liked him.   

That’s testament to the many wonderful stories his friends have been sharing. But it’s also testament to Endi.   

To be sure, Endi was confident, sometimes to the point of cockiness. But it was playful. While he had strong opinions about almost everything, and he loved sharing them, he was also always thinking and learning and listening to others. I saw his tastes in many things change over time. He was growing, he was changing, he was getting better.   

Thanks to Endi’s Aussie friends, and the stories they are sharing, we’re loving our son even more (if that’s possible). It makes the loss even harder, but the memories even sweeter, for he was a wonderful and dynamic person.   

Finally, this note, just for fun. Endi’s first experience in Australia was not in Sydney but on a ranch in the middle of nowhere. He had limited Internet access so we’d wait for updates that arrived sporadically, and we’d send care packages as often as we could. While searching for Endi’s football highlights I found this email I had saved, from 2014. It is his requests for the next care package. (We sent them all.)   

Oh God I miss him.   

His note:   

  More cigars
  A torx bit set which must have a t6 t8 & t10 bit 
  Dr bronners lavender 
  St Ives apricot face soap 
  and anything else you think i would like 

  Much love, 
  Endicott