All,
I just wanted you all to know that I check in here multiple times daily, and I am just overwhelmed at what is said, written and offered. I mean that in the truest sense of the word, I am simply overwhelmed. Never in my life have I ever had such an overwhelming act of kindness and generosity directed toward me. I feel like the family on that home replacement show, when the guy with the megaphone stands on their front porch a 5:00 AM and screams "Gooooooood Morning, Smith family!" Never in my wildest dreams did I ever even think, not even for a split second, that this might happen. It was a complete and total shock. I can assure you, it still is!
I have laid awake at night thinking about all this, about the incredible people we have assembled here. It's funny that as I go through the names, I have in my mind a sort of sense of each of you, based on what you've written in the past. There isn't one guy on this site that I wouldn't leap at the opportunity to have a beer with if the opportunity, if it presented itself..
I remember a few years back, before my difficulties started, I was flying to Phoenix, and I had about a 24 hour layover in Scottsdale. I had read so much about John's (Double Ugly) carbon fiber car, and I really wanted to see it. However, I'm not the type to try to insert myself into someone's life, and have someone feel obligated to make time for me. So, I though what the heck, I PM'd John, told him I'd be in the area, and that if he was willing to get together, I'd love to buy him lunch and see his car. I also explained that if he was busy of course I understood. I got a response back that he was actually pleased to meet me and looked forward to it. John picked me up in his daily driver at my hotel and drove me to his beautiful house, opened the garage door, and there it was. What a spectacular car. I was even more surprised when he wheeled it out and took me for a ride. At the time it was my first ride in a Cobra. We drove for about 10 minutes or so, and we pulled in front of his house. At that point he shut the car down and got out, and of course I followed. He walked back to the drivers door, opened it with a smile, and said "get in and drive, keep it slow, go have fun; I want to get some pictures of it, just go around the corner and enjoy it." I actually got to drive his car, and I had pictures to prove it!
The incredible kindness, hospitality and generosity that John showed me that day will never, ever be forgotten. Thank you again, John. More so, I realize that this is the spirit that permeates this entire site; A family of relative strangers, knowing each other well while never having met.
To have some of you want to put in time, some send money, Ed willing to screw the entire car together at his place......I am speechless. There is so much inside of me that I would like to say to each and every one of you. However, as you can plainly tell, I am not the best writer you have ever seen, and I hold little hope that I can ever adequately express to each and every one of you the gratitude and awe that I feel inside to all of you.
I have written this in many PM's that I have received, but it bears repeating again and again. I have no words to express my gratitude other than Thank You. So I will say it again, and again, and again......Thank you. You guys are just incredible. Thank you.
Doug