Angela Merendino's Validation with her son Ian through Kathi Behrens

Ian was coming through and piggybacking from the beginning.

I typed into the chat multiple times then kept deleting it because I didn’t want to be overwhelming.

When Kathi mentioned military and dare devil I thought of Ian. Ian was in ROTC at Penn State University. He became a bit more carefree as he got older.

Kathi mentioned a car. Ian and my husband acquired a kit car that they tinkered with for the past 10 years. We just gave it back to the original owners last week.

After typing and deleting many times, I had to chime in when Kathi mentioned boats and on the river. The following bullet points have so much meaning.

Here we go:

• My friend and I were sitting on her pontoon boat on the river while watching the readings
• Ian crossed over at 23 years of age last October 21 when an unfortunate yet tragic accident occurred while he was working as a deckhand/engineer on an expedition super yacht. 
• This accident happened at the mouth of the Savannah river
• He was coming into his own and he would do many activities for the thrill (dare devil)
• The same accident happened 2 years ago in the same place on the river
• Kathi asked about a sister – we have very good family friend that are family, her name is Kate. Her and Ian are very close. I know this is her. She has been very supportive and close to us.
• He is so happy to see you out and about. My friend Nancy was his second mother! He called her “mother nanc”
• Wants us to live and experience life. Every medium reading I have this same sentiment comes up. “Thanks Ian!”
• Kathi said Ian loved what he was doing. He finally found his way and the ultimate job. He said it was heaven on earth. He left last July 25. We FaceTimed every day, and we got to hear about all of the cool adventures he was starting to have.
• I just got many tattoo’s on my arm. Kathi was mentioning an anchor. It was the anchor plate and the front of the tender (32 ft. boat) they were towing that lead his physical demise. His head met the front of the tender and the anchor plate when they were pulling it in to attach to the yacht. Hence may be why he talked about the anchor. Maybe he wants me to add an anchor to my tattoo’s. 
• He always mentions the tattoo on my forearm. This is the one I got first, the day before his birthday this past January. All of the crew left notes on post-it’s for us to send with him. This quote was from the captain and it is in script on my forearm. “The days pass happily with Ian wherever his ship sails.”
• We always chased him around when he was a toddler. Kathi mentions him showing her this.
• Ian said through Kathi, “I had the best life. I got to experience so many things.” This is so very true. His life was full of many accomplishments: Greensburg Salem HS 2019 honor society and many scholastic awards, Eagle Scout, lifeguard, NROTC, and most importantly to him – his seaworthy credentials to work on super yachts. He had countless hobbies and mastered skills including: piano, guitar and vocals, fishing, fly tying, boating, skiing, gardening, investing, and taking money from the casino. He was truly living his best life and dream as a Deckhand/Engineer on a super yacht 
• His photo is everywhere! The last photo taken of him in used for many of our posts, framed pics, and gifts from our family and friends. And, there were 6 big boards of photos of him at his viewing. Probably 500 photos of him on easels at the funeral home last year.
• “Did you make his favorite foods?” I spend 7 hours in the kitchen that day making “Ian’s quiche” and Grandma Merendino’s homemade chicken noodle soup for 3 families who were ill or elderly. These were his favorite’s! Yes!
• I made a quiche for our dear friend Sophie last year. She told us to call this “Ian’s quiche” and to make it for folks in need in his name.
• Nancy ate a piece of the quiche on the river just before the Gallery meeting.

Everything Kathi channeled was spot on. Thank you Kathi and Helping Parents Heal for offering these connections with our children.

And, thank you Ian for choosing us to be your parents! We love you!

Look for the Live Like Ian Foundation. We are in the process of creating this in his honor. 

#livelikeian

~Angela & Mike Merendino

Please watch the YouTube video by clicking here.