Enjoy Your Car While You Can

[PatS....]

Pat S, you know that it is phoney, I hope ! When I listed my '55 Merc on a couple of those 'free' cars sales website, I'd get at least one a week. Asking for part of the shipping or something in advance. Most of them were comming out of Africa ! You can usually tell, if they can't speak (write) very good english.............Nothing is free !!!!

It was with tongue firmly planted in cheek that I posted my letter of good fortune.

[Rodney Bullock]

Rodney;

Stilts are easy to make. Not so easy to use. Make some and try them out.

Don, I tried to make a pair when I was 12. That summer in the hospital was the most depressing summer I ever had:( when my mother and father past away, my bother and I split everthing down the middle, we have always been close anyway. We thought it a tribute to them as they raised us very well. God I miss them now.

[PatS....]

Wow, Rodney...Mom and Dad both and you were only 12? That must have been a tough time for you both. I'm glad to see you came out well from a bad situation.

I have a friend who had a similar tragedy at 13 and he did not handle it well at all. Has had a hard life since due to drugs and alcohol and fighting.

Makes me think how lucky I was. And still am, really.

[55 Fargo]

Rodney thats God Awful, I have a tough time thinking about my parents not being alive, they are 73 and 75, there gettin on now, so I will face this someday too.

As Pat has said, it sounds like things turned out well for you, I also have read that you go and see your Grandpa a lot, sounds like you 2 are close....................Fred

[1941Dodge]

Well, I have a friend that was given 1 month to live, with inoperable brain cancer, that was 3 years ago now. Her cancer went from a golf ball size thing to a marble size and she is even more energetic and positive now and going places and doing things. So, there is just no telling what will happen or might not happen, I believe that you have to pray and believe that whatever happens is God's will, whether that is for someone to get well, or not. But, he should not be worring about getting rid of the parts, etc. he should enjoy them, because, like I said about my friend, if she would have sold everything 3 years ago, she would be messed up now! So, he should enjoy his cars and projects as if this news was not given to him, just make sure that everything is in order. I think if I got that kind of news, I would not tell anyone, because I would want them to treat me exactly the same as they do now and not patronize me, I would make sure to read up on the values of my stuff and if my fam. wanted to get rid of it then fine (except for the cars of course!), but, I would leave detailed info, but not sell everything, because, you earned it so, you might as well enjoy it.

[48Dodger]

My wife passed away 4 years ago. I was 40. The 48 truck that's in my profile picture is still registered as hers. She was working on a tuesday, developed pneumonia, and died 3 days later. She was an ICU nurse. I work the ER in Radiology. She was wonderful, and always pretended to understand my insane love of cars. She used to tell me "I'm doing exactly what I'm suspose to be doing...nursing". Funny, cuz one of her hobbies was worrying about how I was gonna kill myself. I drive to fast, I race to much, I eat to much, I work around radiation, etc.etc... who knew. I've always lived my life like I would live forever,...less to think about. I know its not true, but it still works for me.

I'm really enjoying reading the wisdom on this thread.

When I'm joking with the kids, I like to say "If I die racing, I'll be happy....If I die commuting to work, I'll be p*ssed"

48D

[Don Coatney]

Don, I tried to make a pair when I was 12. That summer in the hospital was the most depressing summer I ever had:( when my mother and father past away, my bother and I split everthing down the middle, we have always been close anyway. We thought it a tribute to them as they raised us very well. God I miss them now.

Rodney;

Do I understand that the stilts you made put you in the hospital and while there your parents passed? How sad... My mother died 30 years ago while at work. She was a night book keeper at a Holiday Inn. She had a massave heart attach and died instantly. She was only 58 years old. My dad died 4 years later mostly from a broken heart as he missed my mom. He was 78 when he died and was living with me. If I have a choice I want to go quickly and not suffer as my dad did.

On another note here is a link on stilt making.

http://www.juggling.org/help/circus-arts/stilts/

[Rodney Bullock]

Wow, Rodney...Mom and Dad both and you were only 12? That must have been a tough time for you both. I'm glad to see you came out well from a bad situation.

I have a friend who had a similar tragedy at 13 and he did not handle it well at all. Has had a hard life since due to drugs and alcohol and fighting.

Makes me think how lucky I was. And still am, really.

Oh no Pat, let me clarify my parents died in 2001 (father) and 2006(mother) it was at that time my bother and I split everything. When I was 12 I built the stilts and fell off them, that summer I could not walk, everyoe though I was done, then one day I was sitting on the side of the bed and went to the bathroom no one noticed at first then it accured to me and everyone else, you gotta see why I have such a optimistic look on everything:rolleyes: shortly after that I learned that I could jump and kick and everything:D you gotta love the world!

[Rodney Bullock]

Rodney;

Do I understand that the stilts you made put you in the hospital and while there your parents passed? How sad... My mother died 30 years ago while at work. She was a night book keeper at a Holiday Inn. She had a massave heart attach and died instantly. She was only 58 years old. My dad died 4 years later mostly from a broken heart as he missed my mom. He was 78 when he died and was living with me. If I have a choice I want to go quickly and not suffer as my dad did.

On another note here is a link on stilt making.

http://www.juggling.org/help/circus-arts/stilts/

Sorry Don, I was putting two thoughts together and it came out wrong. Mom passed 2006 and my dad passed 2001.My bother and I never fought over anything because we have a great love for each other, born 9 years apart I was lonely. I built those stilts when I was 12 staying with my Grand parents, fell off them and yelled"I'm par-i-lized" all my uncle could do was laugh, I did not walk for a couple of days and then one day that summer I could it's funny I was sitting on the bed looking at a trailer for Chinese connection got up and went to the bathroom. That's when another dream of mine started:D it's funny one door opens and another door closes. Those stilts make it so you can see over everyone I'm 5'7 imagine how short I was at 12:p

[Rodney Bullock]

Rodney thats God Awful, I have a tough time thinking about my parents not being alive, they are 73 and 75, there gettin on now, so I will face this someday too.

As Pat has said, it sounds like things turned out well for you, I also have read that you go and see your Grandpa a lot, sounds like you 2 are close....................Fred

Yes my Granddad and I were very close, he passed away on New years day last year. We went to car shows together and he made alot of things possible for me to enjoy today. You are very lucky Fred, I was so busy being me that I did not enjoy my parents the way I should have, I spent to much time worshiping them, it's like that song "the cats in the cradle and a silver spoon the little boy blue and the man in the moon" if you remember. The guy grew up like his dad. I do know that they were very proud of me, all the elders:) hey could always depend on me. Dying is the way of life here on earth. As the Gentleman said in his post it's God's will I can't question that.

[Don Coatney]

then one day I was sitting on the side of the bed and went to the bathroom no one noticed at first

Now Rodney I know that if I was sitting on the side of the bed and went to the bathroom everyone in the room and probably the adjoining rooms would notice. Cause I know that my poop stinks:eek:

Or did you mean to say you walked to the crapper:confused:

[Rodney Bullock]

No Don, I got up and walked to the bathroom, number 1 no aroma:o

[Don Coatney]

"the cats in the cradle and a silver spoon the little boy blue and the man in the moon"

Follow the link.

[Rodney Bullock]

Now you've gone and done it Don, I love that song. Every so often aperson comes along with a stroke of genious and that song is it. The notes , the words and the tempo are all alighed with the cosmo's. If we all could just listen to that song once a week:D

[Rodney Bullock]

Now you've gone and done it Don, I love that song. Every so often a person comes along with a stroke of genious and that song is it. The notes , the words and the tempo are all alighed with the cosmo's. If we all could just listen to that song once a week:D

[Plymouthy Adams]

Harry Chapin...from the album Varities and Balderdash..that entire album is good..another artist gone early

[PatS....]

Now you've gone and done it Don, I love that song. Every so often aperson comes along with a stroke of genious and that song is it. The notes , the words and the tempo are all alighed with the cosmo's. If we all could just listen to that song once a week:D

The one that gets me is an old one called "Patches" by Clarence Carter. It came out just as a good friend's dad died. My friend was 14. I don't hear the song much anymore but it still brings me back.

Rodney, glad to hear I misunderstood and you got to spend much more time with Mom and Dad.

[blueskies]

Good friend of mine and former neighbor has four kids. His youngest developed a brain tumor at the age of 2. Yep, two years old. They did a massive brain operation and removed the tumor. He was good as new, miraculously. Then, about 3 years later, he developed a second brain tumor. This time it was more difficult to remove, but the little guy went through it again, and the tumor was removed. The surgery and tumor damaged his optic nerves, so he is now blind as a result. Apparently brain tumors have a repeat cycle, if you make it long enough to have them repeat. He is now getting close to the time frame of the third cycle, and has MRIs and brain scans every three months to catch the next tumor early so that it can be handled without a third major surgery.

Through all of this, I don't think I have ever met a little kid with more heart and soul. He would stand at the end of his driveway, and listen. I would walk out to get my mail, and he could tell it was me from the sounds I made. He'd wave his arms and holler "hi Peeeeete". So I would go over and chat with him for a bit. He has touched more lives in his 6 years than most folks in a life time. Something we could all learn from to be sure.

It's very hard to see someone who has lived a full life get dealt a rough hand, but much, much harder to see a child go through the same. I tell my kids, every single day, how much I love them, because one never knows if it will be the last chance to do so.

Live every day as if it is your last, don't wait for a doctor to tell you that you've run out of time. If I had to make a bucket list, I'm not sure cars would make the cut. It would be about the people in my life...

Pete

[Norm's Coupe]

Live every day as if it is your last, don't wait for a doctor to tell you that you've run out of time. If I had to make a bucket list, I'm not sure cars would make the cut. It would be about the people in my life...

Pete

Well said Pete.

[Merle Coggins]

Good friend of mine and former neighbor has four kids. His youngest developed a brain tumor at the age of 2. Yep, two years old. They did a massive brain operation and removed the tumor. He was good as new, miraculously. Then, about 3 years later, he developed a second brain tumor. This time it was more difficult to remove, but the little guy went through it again, and the tumor was removed. The surgery and tumor damaged his optic nerves, so he is now blind as a result. Apparently brain tumors have a repeat cycle, if you make it long enough to have them repeat. He is now getting close to the time frame of the third cycle, and has MRIs and brain scans every three months to catch the next tumor early so that it can be handled without a third major surgery.

Through all of this, I don't think I have ever met a little kid with more heart and soul. He would stand at the end of his driveway, and listen. I would walk out to get my mail, and he could tell it was me from the sounds I made. He'd wave his arms and holler "hi Peeeeete". So I would go over and chat with him for a bit. He has touched more lives in his 6 years than most folks in a life time. Something we could all learn from to be sure.

It's very hard to see someone who has lived a full life get dealt a rough hand, but much, much harder to see a child go through the same. I tell my kids, every single day, how much I love them, because one never knows if it will be the last chance to do so.

Live every day as if it is your last, don't wait for a doctor to tell you that you've run out of time. If I had to make a bucket list, I'm not sure cars would make the cut. It would be about the people in my life...

Pete

I've met more kids like him than I care to count since I got involved with the Ride for Kids and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. It never ceases to amaze me how resilient these kids are.

For more info on that, click the link in my signiture line (shameless plug)

[PatS....]

Good friend of mine and former neighbor has four kids. His youngest developed a brain tumor at the age of 2. Yep, two years old. They did a massive brain operation and removed the tumor. He was good as new, miraculously. Then, about 3 years later, he developed a second brain tumor. This time it was more difficult to remove, but the little guy went through it again, and the tumor was removed. The surgery and tumor damaged his optic nerves, so he is now blind as a result. Apparently brain tumors have a repeat cycle, if you make it long enough to have them repeat. He is now getting close to the time frame of the third cycle, and has MRIs and brain scans every three months to catch the next tumor early so that it can be handled without a third major surgery.

Through all of this, I don't think I have ever met a little kid with more heart and soul. He would stand at the end of his driveway, and listen. I would walk out to get my mail, and he could tell it was me from the sounds I made. He'd wave his arms and holler "hi Peeeeete". So I would go over and chat with him for a bit. He has touched more lives in his 6 years than most folks in a life time. Something we could all learn from to be sure.

It's very hard to see someone who has lived a full life get dealt a rough hand, but much, much harder to see a child go through the same. I tell my kids, every single day, how much I love them, because one never knows if it will be the last chance to do so.

Live every day as if it is your last, don't wait for a doctor to tell you that you've run out of time. If I had to make a bucket list, I'm not sure cars would make the cut. It would be about the people in my life...

Pete

Thanks for sharing that, Pete. I, too, have met a few of these heros while driving for the local Handi-Bus company. Meeting these little guys and girls changed the way I look at things entirely. And you never forget those brilliant smiles that light up the day, literally.

[55 Fargo]

I know the song, I do have a Prodigal Son, he will be 25 In May, I have not seen him in 5 years, but will celebrate if and when he returns. His choice, maybe someday he will see my 47 and we can go for a ride, and he can bring my 3 year old Grandson, I have never seen my Grandson to date...................Fred

[BeBop138]

Amen to enjoying the cars. I have heart troubles, all my plumbing is plugged up and the last test shows it`s getting worse. I have asked the good Lord to let me live long enough so my Grandkids will remember me. I love my old cars and the good friends that I have meet over the years. What a great hobby that brings so many people together. The building and the satisfaction knowing you can do it is the avenue to meet the people that own em, What a great reward. So Thanks to all of you........Amen!

[Chester Brzostowski]

Before I kick the bucket I would like to finish my '41 Plymouth Woodie and get it back on the road. 19 years and counting since purchase.

Jim Yergin

Jim..,

I'm hoping to get a ride in your 41 before I kick the bucket. No preasure now.

Chet...

[Jim Yergin]

Chet,

I hope you are planning on a long and healthy life.

Jim