Thanks to little Reese for giving me a sense of calm I never knew I had.
12-03-2008, 07:15 AM
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Thanks to little Reese for giving me a sense of calm I never knew I had.
After 4 days I'm ready to talk about it.
An old college buddy of mine, Paul who some of you have met, was in town this past week from St.Louis and we planned to get together Saturday night. Maybe I'm just not a good dog owner, I always check Cooper into the puppy spa as we go out of town, Paul travels with his two dogs. So we're going to meet Paul out and he calls to ask if he can drop the dogs off in our garage before meeting up with us. I'm not crazy about the idea but they've slept in the garage before without much issue.
After an evening of festivities, we roll in late Saturday night/Sunday morning and as the garage door is opening I can see they've dragged a bag of potting soil all over the garage floor, disappointing but no big deal. As I pull forward further I can now see that the car cover that once fully covered the Lotus is now off the back end of the car and crumpled on the hood and windshield. Holes have been ripped in the cover and there are paw prints on the windshield and roof...
I'm half surprised I'm not locked up right now based on some cruelty to animals charge but one of the first things that flashed through my mind as I stood there staring at the car was little Reese Erlain and what Tony & Kelly have been living for the last month. So many more important things in this world than what I was faced with that evening.
Spent some time with the buffer, a cleaning compound, polish and wax and everything looks fine (although the scrutinizing eye of Marko or Scott might be able to disagree). Thank you Reese for providing me the perspective to deal with these miserable animals.
Hopefully everyone here can find a way she can positively impact your lives as well. As you wait for that chance, keep her in your thoughts and prayers and give some thought as to what you can do to make the 02/07/09 Reese Erlain Foundation fundraiser an unbelievable success.
Click the link below and give the journal a read starting from the beginning. Amazing stuff.<ul><li><a href="http://reeseerlainfoundation.org/default.aspx">Reese Erlain Foundation</a></li></ul>
An old college buddy of mine, Paul who some of you have met, was in town this past week from St.Louis and we planned to get together Saturday night. Maybe I'm just not a good dog owner, I always check Cooper into the puppy spa as we go out of town, Paul travels with his two dogs. So we're going to meet Paul out and he calls to ask if he can drop the dogs off in our garage before meeting up with us. I'm not crazy about the idea but they've slept in the garage before without much issue.
After an evening of festivities, we roll in late Saturday night/Sunday morning and as the garage door is opening I can see they've dragged a bag of potting soil all over the garage floor, disappointing but no big deal. As I pull forward further I can now see that the car cover that once fully covered the Lotus is now off the back end of the car and crumpled on the hood and windshield. Holes have been ripped in the cover and there are paw prints on the windshield and roof...
I'm half surprised I'm not locked up right now based on some cruelty to animals charge but one of the first things that flashed through my mind as I stood there staring at the car was little Reese Erlain and what Tony & Kelly have been living for the last month. So many more important things in this world than what I was faced with that evening.
Spent some time with the buffer, a cleaning compound, polish and wax and everything looks fine (although the scrutinizing eye of Marko or Scott might be able to disagree). Thank you Reese for providing me the perspective to deal with these miserable animals.
Hopefully everyone here can find a way she can positively impact your lives as well. As you wait for that chance, keep her in your thoughts and prayers and give some thought as to what you can do to make the 02/07/09 Reese Erlain Foundation fundraiser an unbelievable success.
Click the link below and give the journal a read starting from the beginning. Amazing stuff.<ul><li><a href="http://reeseerlainfoundation.org/default.aspx">Reese Erlain Foundation</a></li></ul>
12-03-2008, 07:57 AM
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I too, have evolved. I now look at them as just cars. Family is the only important thing.
No emotional attachment what so ever. I used to take the car thing way too seriously, but that was before I knew any of you. I used to be really **** about my car and maybe that is because that is all I had when I was young. I now drive nicer cars and care less, which is a bit ironic and speaks to my priorities. Having been there and wrecked that has changed my perspective.
Since becoming a father, I am no longer interested in preserving any car. I am only interested in the well being of my precious occupants. One of my friends asked me how I felt after my daughter was born and I responded, "nothing else matters." I will never forget how cautious I was on that first ride home with my baby.
I now chuckle when I hear people insist on only washing their own cars or only changing their own oil, as though five year old mass produced cars were somehow special. If the dog left a big steamer on the hood, so what. It'll buff right out. If not, you'll have a good story to tell over a beer. Besides, you bought it to track it, not to show it.
My cat has left his mark on some pretty expensive furniture. I forgave him.
Reese has reminded me to spend as much time with the ones I love as time will allow. Never take your health for granted. Never miss an opportunity to tell them how much you love them. I race home to give them big hugs every day.
"You find somebody to love in this world, you better hang on tooth and nail. The wolf is always at the door."
Since becoming a father, I am no longer interested in preserving any car. I am only interested in the well being of my precious occupants. One of my friends asked me how I felt after my daughter was born and I responded, "nothing else matters." I will never forget how cautious I was on that first ride home with my baby.
I now chuckle when I hear people insist on only washing their own cars or only changing their own oil, as though five year old mass produced cars were somehow special. If the dog left a big steamer on the hood, so what. It'll buff right out. If not, you'll have a good story to tell over a beer. Besides, you bought it to track it, not to show it.
My cat has left his mark on some pretty expensive furniture. I forgave him.
Reese has reminded me to spend as much time with the ones I love as time will allow. Never take your health for granted. Never miss an opportunity to tell them how much you love them. I race home to give them big hugs every day.
"You find somebody to love in this world, you better hang on tooth and nail. The wolf is always at the door."
12-03-2008, 08:07 AM
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Well said guys. Ken, any more info on the fundraiser?
I tried donating through the link Mark posted few days ago but it wouldn't work. It's the least I can do. I can't even begin to imagine what a parent goes through when something like that happens.
God speed to Reese and her parents!
God speed to Reese and her parents!
12-03-2008, 08:28 AM
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Still open but leaning to really throwing our support at the February event
to make sure it's a huge success rather than duplicating the effort and cost of putting something together specifically by the Audi crowd. There was a meeting last night for the foundation and someone is supposed to get in touch with me as they start to firm up what they're looking to do for their event.
12-03-2008, 10:07 AM
#7
Ken, Wandered over to "y'alls" forum to see if there was talk of the Daytona event
I was feeling remorse that I was not heading South to do that again. Your post reminded me too of things far more important.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/74232/november_fort_worth_visit_080_13_small.jpg">
Hope you are well. we have two new Grandtwins (this guys little brothers) who are fresh out of NICU from being 10 weeks premature. Improving daily. We too feel blessed. Hope you have a Great Christmas. Say hi to Al. Enjoyed meeting him at Barber.
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/74232/november_fort_worth_visit_080_13_small.jpg">
Hope you are well. we have two new Grandtwins (this guys little brothers) who are fresh out of NICU from being 10 weeks premature. Improving daily. We too feel blessed. Hope you have a Great Christmas. Say hi to Al. Enjoyed meeting him at Barber.
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12-03-2008, 12:59 PM
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Then let me unburden your wallet.
But I know what you're saying. Money is just something that enables a transaction. Cars are just steel, plastic and glass it's life that is precious.
Don't get me wrong, better to have money than not, but I had a heck of a fun time in my 20's when I didn't have two dimes to rub together. It's nice to drive a cushy Audi, but if I had to I could drive a beater again. Hell, a few more years and the Audi will become a beater...
Don't get me wrong, better to have money than not, but I had a heck of a fun time in my 20's when I didn't have two dimes to rub together. It's nice to drive a cushy Audi, but if I had to I could drive a beater again. Hell, a few more years and the Audi will become a beater...