Andrews Family Info -

Loving Labor

andrewsinak — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:09:56 +0000

B.J. and I spent an emotional, but good week in Juneau the last week of June. In spite of vandalism to the memorial site, we were able to rebuild and finish all the work except for the permanent bench, which will be custom made for us by master woodworker Robert Fletcher. Nikki, B.J. and I have decided upon a plaque, which will be ordered for installation with the bench.

The weather was beautiful the week we were there (although the horseflies were horrible), which allowed us to get all of the concrete work done without a problem other than exhaustion and sore muscles. We were fortunate enough to have the help (and muscles) of good friend Christy Leer and nephew Keith. Equally exciting was a visit to the site by kayakers and friend Paula McMeen as we were finishing up. Pictures and a short video will follow this post, but in the meantime a quick pic of B.J. hard at work is attached.

We encourage all who are able; please visit the site, enjoy the beauty and reflect on whatever is on your heart.

Change/Reflections

andrewsinak — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:58:35 +0000

It’s been far too long since I’ve posted to the website. For those of you that don’t know, I have moved out of Juneau, at least for now. My heart, soul and family will always be connected to Juneau, but the pervasive sadness would not leave me while there and I needed a chance to regroup and redefine who I am and a new direction for my life. I am currently living in a small condo at Big Lake, AK – my childhood home. I’m enjoying the incredible sunrises and sunsets each day and the views from my window. It is somewhat isolated in the winter, except for weekends. And except for XC I haven’t been able to ski. Since I also retired to make this happen, I’m adjusting to figuring out what it is I want to do with myself on a daily basis. Due to a severly broken finger limiting my functioning to one hand, settling in has been slow. Change is always a challenge and this is probably not the last one I’ll make.

B.J. and I plan to come back to Juneau to ski sometime over the winter and to continue work on and spend time at the memorial next spring/summer. We miss Brian and Brandon as much as ever; they are in almost every thought I have and every action I take. Ironically, I now live where I have float plane access on a lake in Alaska, part of their Alaska dream. Nikki will make it back to Juneau when she can and as her work allows it.

December and January are difficult months. Christmas, both Brian and Brandon’s birthdays, Clyde’s death, and the date Brian and Brandon were legally deceased all fall within a 3 week period. Time does not heal all wounds; it just changes our daily response to them. My hope is to be a reflection of appreciation – for life, the beauty around us and hope for the future. Brian and Brandon filled our lives with joy and I feel a responsibility to find and give joy in whatever way possible in their memory.

Thank you for keeping Brian and Brandon alive in your hearts as well.

Joyce

Back to SAR Squared

andrewsinak — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:50:15 +0000

I was talking to Mr. Mike Winfree with ConocoPhillips yesterday and he said they used an aircraft based synthetic aperature radar in the Chukchi Sea for a while to model ice movement. I checked just checked out the company online: http://www.aerometric.com/imagery_acquis.htm (IFSAR at the bottom) and am excited to talk to them about logistics etc… More later — BJ

State Of The Memorial Site

andrewsinak — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 23:27:48 +0000

The memorial site is, has been, and will be, a labor of love.

Currently the site has been cleared, grubbed, leveled, and a retaining wall and bench have been put in. The bench at the site is sitting on loose rock. The top level of rock on the retaining wall has been scrubbed with muriatic acid. There is some spare rock in a pile behind the bench. Next, I’d like to clean up the outside of the wall.

After that, perhaps I’ll build the wall out, doubling it up, bring it one row higher, and flatten the top. We would like to add a plaque at the site and put in a more permanent bench. It’ll be interesting to see how the ground supports vegetation, water runoff, and snow first though. Hopefully, the site will be long-lasting and well enjoyed by all the residents of Juneau.

Debris from plane missing in Katmai Park found…

andrewsinak — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 01:15:21 +0000

http://www.ktuu.com/news/ktuu-debris-found-missing-plane-092910,0,5172925.story

See link for article. This news gave me a little hope that we might still find something someday…

Pictures From The Weekend

andrewsinak — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:27:41 +0000

Retaining Wall

andrewsinak — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:44:48 +0000

So we cleared and leveled the site and put up a retaining wall and temporary bench Friday and Saturday, with help from Dave, Tish, and Tristan Forrest. Please feel free to visit the site and take in the view, what our family always called the back yard because Dad flew that direction so much. If you stay for a while, you’ll notice you are right in the flight path and as such can maybe even envision Dad and Brandon on their way home as a float plane passes you overhead. I just ask visitors to be respectful, noting that the wall and bench are temporary until more concrete and rock can be secured in place. It has been great to be around Mom, Nikki, Ryan, Katheryn, Nick, and Keith this weekend – we were just missing Scott and Cathy as far as Andrews’ go (and of course everyone who has passed). Love to everybody — BJ

8/9/10

andrewsinak — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:56:40 +0000

Probably anybody who reads this will undoubtably remember my Dad and brother on 8/9/10, two years after they disappeared… so much has happened to my family since then… We continue to miss Clyde too. (And Zeke, and Chief). We still look for them, we still wonder what happened and desire answers. We still believe that they passed from earth, at peace with it, having lived happy lives, and enjoying their last moments flying, which they loved.

Now that deer season is upon us there is also a new sense of hope as there probably always will be at this time of year. Remind close friends to keep a vigiliant eye out for wreckage or clues.

Unfortunately, no further progress has been made on the memorial site. I will be in Juneau 8/5 to 8/9 to re-assess. Ryan Andrews, our cousin/nephew will also be in town to help, and Nikki will be home too. Feel free to call and say hi. Also, if you know anyone else that might be willing to do the work on the memorial site, please write me an e-mail.

Thanks,

BJ (and Fam)

Site Update

andrewsinak — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:12:27 +0000

Construction on the memorial site has begun and we have contracted Friendly Isle in Juneau to do most of the stone work. About a ton of rock has been hauled up, four trees have been removed, and some leveling of the site has been accomplished. A wood frame for concrete will need to be erected and getting the concrete and water to the site for the foundation still has me a bit confused but Friendly Isle will take care of that. A video showing you around the site is at:

Although much has been accomplished since the video was taken. Still more rock hauling and leveling is needed and because of all the tree roots on the cliff side some rip rap type fill might need to be hauled up for leveling too. Let my Mom know if you can help her out as I leave Sunday. Her number is in the contacts link on the left…

Thanks,

Site Building

andrewsinak — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:28:51 +0000

Construction on the memorial site has begun and help is needed! A meeting tomorrow with our stone mason friends will determine more, but getting a chain-gang of people seems like the best way to get rock from the beach to the site. We are meeting with the masons at 11:00 and will be at the site all day working,and probably most of the day Thursday. More soon!