"You've Got A Friend In Me"

In 1995 “Toy Story” came out. We went to see it and immediately became obsessed – those who have seen it know that it is every bit adult subtext as it is a movie for kids and as I am sure was the case everywhere else, certain “catch phrases” became a standard in our house. Depending on the situation and circumstances, you might hear.

• Ages three and up! It's on my box! Ages three and up!
• Were you scared? Tell me honestly
• I have been chosen. Farewell, my friends. I go to a better place.
• This is a perfect time to panic
• I just don't think I can take that kind of rejection!
• You uncultured swine!
• To infinity, and beyond!
• This isn't flying. This is falling with style!
• I am Buzz Lightyear. I come in peace
• The Claw is our master
• Pull my string!
• I don't like confrontations!
• What would you say if I get someone else to watch the sheep for me tonight?

And dad's favorite,

"Well, I'm not really from Mattel, I'm actually from a smaller company that was purchased by Mattel in a leveraged buyout.".

The catch-phrases faded in popularity and were replaced with the theme song title - “You’ve got a Friend” – mostly because I replayed the beginning of the movie endlessly (remember, I said I liked sound .. and the same sound … over and over again).

But, over time and for reasons I still didn’t understand, that phrase became associated with me, my trademark if you will. So much so that when the family was arranging the funeral liturgy, they were asked what phrase came to their minds about me and they all answered in near-perfect unison “You’ve got a Friend in me.”. I myself never really understood why that phrase stuck to me until my younger sis … wow , that sounds strange and seems even stranger. Even at 18 I was still a baby and always looked up to her …. …..

Oh, yeah. I never really understood why the phrase “You’ve got a Friend in me.” became My phrase until my younger sis spoke at my wake and said (in part)

“When asked what phrase came to our minds about Andrew, we all answered with ‘You’ve got a Friend in me.’ Literally, that’s what Andrew was; he was a friend to every face that saw him, for he was never angry or sad, but instead, upbeat and loving. He gave us a gift we could never ask for, and he delivered it with perfection. I can guarantee you that there is no one who disliked Andrew. His ambiance and aura was contagious, lighting up everyone’s faces and day no matter the circumstances …….

…..our brother was unlike the rest. When I say unlike the rest, it’s in a good sense. He was unique because he was a genuine and innocent soul with the heart of a fighter and did, in fact, fight until the very end…….”


And so it is now that I will be remembered by that phrase, and I am OK with that.

I think dad is even planning to put   “You’ve got a Friend in me”  on my grave marker ….


“You’ve got a Friend”

You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

When the road looks rough ahead
And you're miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
Just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me
You've got troubles, well I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and we see it through

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
Bigger and stronger too
Maybe
But none of them will ever love you the way I do

It's me and you
And as the years go by
Boys, our friendship will never die
You're gonna see
It's our destiny
You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me