Dear Andy,
From the time.... you first met the group of thals who became your good friends. The way they welcomed you and opened up to you, and the way you accepted them and took to them. There's been no looking back.
To the time...you have ever widened the circle to include not just the people you first came to know but whoever joined in, wanted help or just company, support, advise...just being there for each other.
I've been amazed to know and see such a person. Being neither a thal nor parent to a thal or even a blood relative to any thal ...and not even remotely having the painful compulsions that thal poses on family, and parents, and thals themselves...the way you invest..intensively.
Giving of yourself, your resources - in time, money and energy.
As an individual unaided, unsponsored by any of the Thal organizations, you are one of the mostest, one-man grassroot organization as it gets...( and that rocks)
The way you adopted it to be one of or shall I say the main cause closest to your heart...quelled the cynic in me but good.
Lisa chose so wisely in making you the torchbearer, and would be sooooo proud of you..as I'm sure we can all vouchsafe.
You have come a long way baby. Have a very Happy Birthday.