History What was your best moment in 2008

Wakin' up everyday in pretty damned good shape for a 67 year old. I'm thankful and I know I'm a lot better off than a lot of folks. And spending quality time with my son going to Colorado to pick up the '56 and both of us being at Turkey Rod Run with our cars. I'll be just tickled to death if the same goes for 2009 !!

 

Best moment was the birth of my daughter Julianna Belle on June 18th.



Then it was replaced by the 20th of June when she came out of her surgery safely...

then 6 weeks later on August 1st when she was released from the hospital...

and that was topped by her coming home after her final surgery on November 22nd.

2008 has been a long and trying year for me. This coming year has got to be better....

it just has to.

 

getting rid of my girlfriend

 

got the car on the road after two and a half years

 

When Dr. Russo at Sloan-Kettering told me my prostate surgery was a success, giving me lots more years to terrorize the neighbors in my '37 Plymouth rod.

 

1) Make the trip to Bonneville for the 60th Anniversery (my first time) with Boones and other friends and meeting alot of great HAMBers from all over the world there.....Bob K, Denise, Megan, Malcom, The Old Crow crew, Kiwi Kev, 272Sedan, NineInch, and many others I have forgoten names of....

2) Acouple months after Bonneville finding my Buick as the centerfold in New Zeland Hot Rod ...Thanks Kiwi Kev, Boones, and Dave S.




3) At SEMA seeing the new Mooneyes 2009 Bonneville Poster which also had a pic of my Buick on the salt.....


4) Getting the Buick in the HAMB Calender this year...Thanks Boones.....

5) And having a healthy year and beeing on the HAMB...

 

Driving my model A coupe for the first time.........of course, I later traded it for a buick, but after ten years of on again off again work, it was nice to drive it a little........

 

Happy new yrs you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Many involved my hot rod, many with family. One day when working on the 'rod, my youngest grandson asked if I could haul him and his stuff to the school auditorium for a concert his music class was putting on that evening.

We loaded it all up in the Hot Rod Nash and went. He plays bass, both guitar and upright. When we pulled into the HS parking lot with that big upright case sticking out the window, a croud gathered. Wilst he was unloading it he was innundated with questions about the car. Those kids thought his grandpa's ride was neat.

As I drove away, I got misty just thinking about his dedication to his music, and that my reason for driving him somewhere had such a profound basis, his being such a good kid and spending his time on important things instead of just hanging out like so many HS kids do. I am thankful that he seems to be on the right track and hope that I'll be able to give him rides for many more years.

It's a special thing for a grandpa to sit in the audience and hear music performed by flesh and blood, with my other three grandchildren on my mind, thankful that none of them have any serious health issues and none are in jail!

 

Mine was last night, New Years Eve, making a special night even more special. Going on 9 yrs of marriage, kneeling down again for the second time, on one knee, and asking my loving and wonderful wife,...

"after all these years, would you still marry me,.."

Her reply with tears in her eyes and a smile,....

"Yes, in a heartbeat!"



HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

 

Had no idea how this would effect my life at the time, but it started when I bought a NOS Model T Ford hood at Hershey. Got to my swap meet spot on Tuesday around noon and did a quick walkaround, found the NOS hood for $40.00. Listed it on eBay a week later, sold for a PROFIT, but the winner claimed he bid the wrong amount, so I offered it to the second highest bidder. He wanted it but was doing a slow dance about it........and I needed the money. Told the story to a lifelong friend at a local fleamarket and he acceped the offer I made on the hood, and asked me to drop it off at his shop the next day. Never saw his fab shop until I delivered the hood, VERY impressive, and he offered me a job there. I started the next day, 2008 was GREAT for me!

 

1. Driving to the Nats in Louisville in my own coupe. That is the single biggest rush that a rodder can have after the first drive.

2. Seeing my boy receive his Masters!

3. Saving TWO Old English Sheep dogs from the perils of a shelter. These turned out to be great dogs and me and my wife are SOOOO glad we tool on both of them.

 

Bringing my wife home from the hospital after almost 6 weeks there. Specially since at first wasn't sure if she'd make it or if she'd even recognize anyone. She's back and almost 100%. Ride was made easier by the support and prayers received and offered up on the HAMB. Am now convinced horses are for BBQing not riding.

 

Getting my 51 Merc,finding some history and an invite to the Sacramento Autorama Merc gathering.

 

Memorial Day weekend. I drove my (just finished) t-bucket through downtown Houston. It's my first hot rod. Gonna do that again real soon.

 

Winning a 2nd place award at the Cadillac-LaSalle club's 50th anniversary Grand National meet with my '91 Cad Fleetwood.

 

Well, It was good seeing you there too, Alan. And your car on the salt? Priceless!

 

There were many great events of 2008, but the following 2 really stick out in my mind.

- Was surprised with an award at Detroit Autorama, best traditional pick-up.
- Got to see my oldest neice graduate tops in her class, and get a full academic scholarship to M.I.T.

 

Always interesting to really think about it. The good and the bad. Sooo many bad, but it can almost always be soooo much worse.

I think the best was being able to drive cross country at my own pace and do whatever I wanted to do on the trip. That was a freedom like nothing else.

 

January 10th, about 9:00AM, my second beautiful daughter was born.

 

Welcoming my youngest son home after a tour in Iraq as a Cavalry Scout. He'd been hit by IED's 3 different times. NOTHING compares with seeing him, healthy.
Toughest time so far in 2009?? He leaves Feb. 05 for another tour.
Kind of puts life, and things, in perspective!
Mark

 

Got back from another deployment in Iraq without losing any of my Joes. I was home in time for my 21st anniversary and Christmas.

 

Every day in the winter when Im laid off I get on the Hamb first thing!

 

Glad to hear you are safe! Thanks for all you do and have done!

We will say a prayer for him to come home safely! Tell him thanks for all he does and had done for us.

 

First straight axle, first set of aluminum heads, first 4.11 Trak-Lok, and doing it all myself. But more importantly, the first drive afterwards.

 

Time fly's

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