Something To Be Thankful For

New 11/25/2004,updated 12/03/2004

I have been putting this off for quite some time simply because since SW9 went down in the Desert, I have been up to my neck in alligators in the swamp and dropped my bat.

There are a ton of people that need to be recognized and publicly thanked for coming together in what amounted to a logistical nightmare and the ultimate repair.

This will be, as best as I can remember, in chronological order.

Thanks goes out to all the members of the 2004 Midwest Caravan. Without Ron Porters leadership and immaculate planning, which we all pretty well screwed up, the trip would not have been possible.

To Paul Nimz, who valiantly tried to ease my pain by at least opening the hood and tinkering. Once we tried to start it, the look on his face told me everything I didn't want to know.

To Kirk, who wisely stayed away because as the blunt Nor Easterner that he is, realized that at that precise moment blunt was not going to be a good thing and wandered off in the desert to play with stones. This also told me more than I wanted to know. Also, he was saddled with me as shotgun for a while immediately after the incident. I was in a foul mood. Sorry Man.

To Ron's friend John, who graciously allowed me to rejoin my family and use his car for the remainder of the trip back. I still owe him for a mirror that I think I took out. BTW Maxima 6speeds rock.

To Brad Bender, and most assuredly his friend Arthur and Cindee Beard, SW9 might still be baking in the desert if not for Brad's helping and hooking me up with Arthur who dollied SW9 back through the desert in the middle of the night after being hassled by the Fallon PD who thought Arthur was swiping a car that he had the passcode to. Take a moment and think about that folks.

To JJ who hooked me up with the boneyard motor in my own backyard that he was bidding on and let me have. Thanks man.

To a local list lurker who will only go by the name of Bear - thanks for your buying power with Ford. Saved a ton of dough on little items that could have really killed me.

To Torrie, FPN, got the Torque Converter to me in a hurry. And the RMA on the suspect one that was originally shipped.

***This is getting to sound like an Emmy acceptance speech isn't it?******

To Doug Lewis who would check in with us on a regular basis and offer insights to both of us that helped throughout the rebuild. Thanks Man.

To Sheriff - You carried the load when I was trapped in a garage for 6 weeks - you made sure the site was current - darn man Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

To Heather and Tyler, who essentially lost me for 6 weeks in the garage, and to Heather, who wound up basically as a single parent - thanks for hanging in there. Despite her gloom, and amazement at the abundant assortment of parts scattered all over three bays of our garage it came together and ran.

Finally, to a guy who redefined the meaning of friendship - Eric Lehamnn. When I called him from the desert and told him of my misfortune, it wasn't even a question in his mind. He came to my aid on almost a nightly basis for six weeks and through his efforts put life back into a basically cooked car. I have become over the years rather edgy with regard to personal relationships. Call it a hazard of life in the business world. I sometimes look at something to good to be true and begin the enviable questioning of motive. Eric's motive was transparent and easy enough to understand - a buddy was in deep doo doo (I can't say shit on the list). Through my darkest moments, he was a beacon of light that kept my spirits up and was bound and determined to make the car run and in the process teach me things, and give me confidences I never mechanically thought I would have.
I owe him and everybody else mentioned more than I can repay.

(stupid gum hanging outta my mouth)

On a side note, I need to thank the management of my building who put up with the lone complainer and kept checking on our progress. And to the neighborhood that took such an interest in what we were doing night after night and finally giving SW9 a standing ovation on the day she came out of the garage under he own power. Trust me when I tell you we were the entertainment capitol of Lorraine Ave in Wheaton, IL for 6 weeks. We had many many people stop by and just gawk at the sight of a V8 going into a Taurus. Some of those moments lifted both our spirits.

But then again, isn't that fundamentally what this community is really supposed to be about? As long as I have the keys to the kingdom I'll make sure of it.

Uncl Lar

P.S. If I have left anybody out, it was not by design. More like AARP memory failure. Forgive me.

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