Avery was my son Jacob's biggest "cheerleader" at his Basketball games. He was at every game and would cheer Jacob on. Jacob looked for Avery in the stands, he didn't care if we were there or not just Avery because Avery was his buddy. He told us that all the time.
I went to Southport High School with UFC Fighter Chris Lytle as well as his wife and were pretty close. I knew of Avery's love for UFC as he would always show me the videos of him and his friends fighting in his basement. He told me one day he would be famouse like Chris Lytle. When I told him I knew Chris Lytle his face lit up and I knew I had to introduce him to Chris. I had a plan in place where he could meet Matt Mitrione as well who is another UFC Fighter. I took him with us to Chris Lytle's UFC Retirement Party. He was so excited and talked alot about it. I introduced him to Chris Lytle and Matt Mitrione and boy was he ever so thrilled! It made me happy to know that I introduced him to his idol and it made me even happier that I could get Chris to come out on Avery's behalf for his funeral. Chris meets alot of people and has through out his career but Avery made a great impression on him when they met because he remembered him and the entire conversation they had and I thought that was awesome! Avery you would have done great in this sport, it may have been a hard sport to watch but you would have been awesome at it and that came from Chris "Light's Out" Lytle. You will be missed!
Avery went with my family to Appleworks so that I could take photos of him and Kelcie. Whikle we were there we went to the petting area for the animals. He came across that little baby goat and that was it, he was hooked! He loved that little goat and it loved him. We had to beg him to leave it so we could move on lol!
I have SO MANY memories about Avery! He loved going to the Horse Track with Missy and Willy. I remember one time they took Kelcie and Avery and Kelcie were so excited they won! They didn't win but like $5 but hey they won and Avery was thrilled!!! I remember the excitement on his face as they told me the story.
I could write a 500 page novel on all the memories and thoughts I have about Avery, but right now one is standing out the most. It is more of a time period than a "memory" It is a time period that I would give anything in the world to go back to. It was when Avery would text me every single day and tell me everything that was going on. Whether good or bad he would make sure to text me and tell me, and if I didn't respond he texted me again haha. I will never forget some of the things we talked about. He knew everything about me and never told a soul. If something happened and I felt like I just couldn't bare it, he was the first one I would text. Something about me is that I have a need to be needed. Maybe that doesn't make much sense but it is true. Avery needed me, and I would give anything to go back to that. I would help him through any situation to the best of my abilities and at the end of the day when he would thank me and tell me he was feeling better, I would feel better. It was one of the highlights of our friendship. Then there is the table.. every morning me and Avery were the first people at school. He got there a few minutes before me so by the time I got there he would already be there, with his headphones on, waiting to tell me his latest news. I would go straight to the table and we would sit there for a good 20 minutes just talking about everything before anyone else would show up. He hardly ever missed school so I could always count on walking into school and seeing him there waiting for me. He was one of my best friends. Nothing will ever be the same without him, and no one could ever replace him. I'm having a very hard time letting go of him and right now it seems as if I never will. It's like I don't want to let go. But I'm trying, and I can feel his presence with me always. I love you so much Avery, and you will always be in my heart.
