Andrew Shippin's Personal Blog

On March 02, 2023, I suffered the first of what became 4 heart attacks in 72 hours. This is the aircraft that flew me from Prince William County Hospital to the Virginia Hospital Center. My thanks go out to the amazing staff at all three hospitals I visited that day (UVA Health Haymarket Medical Center in Haymarket Virginia, UVA Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas Virginia, and the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington Virginia) and of course the professionals at PHI Air Medical, and the team who fly this cool looking Aircare Medevac EC-135 Helicopter. In addition to all of that, it would be terribly rude if I didn't thank what seemed like 100s of well-wishers who posted positive messages on social media, and even sent a couple of cards. I am not religious, however I am firmly convinced that those words of encouragement have helped pull me through this challenging health crisis. Again, thank you..

Originally posted on Instagram June 24, 2024. Very cool this Christen Eagle II showed up at EAA 186 for our Mo, nthly Meeting.

A couple weeks ago I discovered a low salt, low calorie Sweet Vidalia Onion salad dressing that was really nice. I drizzled it lightly on quite a few salads. The best part was it seemed to match all the requirements for my attempted improved diet. Great I am going to have to remember this one. Last Wednesday the bottle was finished so it went out that night with the trash. So now I am back in Giant where I purchased it from. Except I forgot what it was called! I remember the bottle had blue and green fonts on a yellow background, but not much more. 

This was on instagram originally from June 18, 2023 Someone suggested that I share a favorite memory of my Dad for Father's Day. Okay this is a fun and happy one. It is also one of the rare instances that my Dad who was a notoriously private man actually chose to open up to strangers. Here he is on the C54E Skymaster "Spirit of Freedom" at the Shannon Air Museum a couple of years before he passed away. This particular C54 pays tribute to the aircrews who flew supplies during the Berlin Airlift (from June 1948 to May 1949). At first Dad didn't want to go down and see it. However after much cajoling we drove down. After walking around, and listening to the crew we went on board, and he started looking at the photos and memorabilia from that era. Then slowly he opened up about a chapter of his British Army Service that even I barely knew about. During those dark times of the Cold War my father was based in what was West Germany, and the aircraft flew over his barracks as they were delivering supplies to the starving Berliners. "The Spirit Freedom" flight crew who at first were a little hesitant around Dad soon warmed up, and were suddenly shaking his hand and pepering him with a 100 questions. Dad's reaction which I thought would be mortification at the intrusive questions (remember how I described him) was anything but, HE LOVED IT!!! There he was smiling, answering questions, and chatting away like a kid on an adventure. For Dad it truly was an adventure, and one of the many reasons that I loved him so much. Dad not a day goes by that I don't think of you and Mum. You are missed so very much. Happy Father's Day...