I mentioned this on Facebook the other day, but wanted to do it here too. On Friday, October 28th we lost a member of our Orlando Barbell family, our brother. Andy Blackton was my training partnerand my friend. By being my training partner it meant that I trusted him with my well being on many occasions and there was a reason for that. He was a good person and cared about others so I knew that he would make sure I was good to go and keep me safe as long as he was capable of doing so. He had a great sense of humor that kept us entertained and he had an impressive work ethic and intensity about him which you could see in his training. He asked questions about technique, programming and nutrition because he wanted to be the best that he could be. This applied to his studies and schooling too. He was studying to be an interpreter for the hearing impaired and busted his butt to make sure he was doing the best he could to learn ASL to provide the best service he could to that community and it showed by how many of his friends from that community came to his memorial last night. There were 550 people that attended the memorial which says to me that he touched the lives of a great deal of people and doesn't surprise me at all. It always made me happy to round the corner on my way to OBB and see his car parked out front because I knew it was going to be a good day simply because he was there and I'd be greeted by his big, beaming smile as I walked in. I think I'll miss that the most.
Andy won't be forgotten by us at OBB. He was well liked...loved by all of us and we have plans for a memorial to be placed in the gym for all to see.
What I'd like for everyone to take from this tragedy is this....
When parting ways with your friends or family make sure that you shake their hand, hug them, bump fists or whatever it is you do. Seeing that person again is not guaranteed and I'd rather have them know I care about them than not.
Andy's favorite meal was Chik-fil-a so after his memorial we all went by there and ate together to honor his memory. #FYA
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