letting go

[steve s]

I finally had to let my first car go--a 1929 Town Sedan bought in 1960. Although DBS surgery last summer had fixed the tremor, other Parkinson's symptoms remained and made it either impossible or just no fun to do the routine maintenance, tinkering, and general clamboring around that goes with Model A ownership. I no longer felt that I could do as totally competent and safe a job driving it as I should, and I didn't want the car to just sit there for my wife to have to deal with some day. We found a good home for it.

I'm as interested as ever in Model A related stuff and suppose I'll continue to check in with this fine forum for the foreseeable future and dispense my 2-cents worth once in a while.

It's been a hoot!

Steve

 

[ronn]

Thanks for letting us know. Ive always appreciated your wisdom on various means of repairs etc.
sorry to see you had to sell your A, but we all go through it.


wishing you the best!

 

[loubob]

I'm sorry to read of your health situation. No doubt selling your "old friend" was a hard thing to do.
I wish you all the best in your future and stay well.
Please continue to post as there are many Barners you can continue to help.


Loubob

 

[Tacoma Bob]

Steve...Please stay on board. Wisdom comes from knowing when enough is enough. I too am having medical issues and have grown concerned about not being able to drive our Tudor any longer. We loved touring but with increased idiots on the roads here in the Seattle area we will be going more for an ice cream car.

 

[TerryH]

Steve....have always enjoyed and appreciated your many posts over the years. Most all of us will also have to face that rather sad day sometime down the road....never easy parting with an old friend like that.
Best wishes with your health and please stay around here!

 

[SAJ]

Steve, we are very sorry to hear that you have to relinquish a hobby you obviously love so well.
I feel a kindred spirit since I too have been immersed in Chemistry, Science and engineering for my whole working and leisure lives.
Please continue to offer sage advice, and also polite correction to those who “mis-speak” about the subjects you have taught, practised and know so well.
I for one would appreciate that.
We wish you well from down under
SAJ in NZ

 

[Synchro909]

Besides being active on this forum, I assume you are a member of a Model A club. I'm sure your continued participation in both would be welcome. Might help you too.
All the best to both you and your wife and thank you for your advice from time to time.

 

[woofa.express]

That's sad Steve.

 

[Tinbasher]

Well done sir. I think the key in your statement was that the A went to a good home. And hopefully you can pass all that you've learn't along.
Have fun with your "Ice Cream Car"

John

 

[rocket1]

I'm sure it was sad,keep involved in the hobby in some way,best of luck.

 

[Ernie Vitucci]

Just as an aside...I do know a fellow who when he became too infirm to repair and drive his 'A', he taught a young lady down the street to do the work and to drive him in his car. When he went to the big garage in the sky, the young lady became the owner of his 'A'. I will bet there are young people in all of our neighborhoods...and what a way to hand a car to the next generation...someone to repair for you and drive for you and to then take the 'A' into the next generation or two or three! Ernie in Arizona

 

[History]

My son and I were just looking at a quilt my wife's great grandmother had made and my wife inherited. Her grandmother was 98 so it's pretty old quilt in awesome shape. Hand stitched with pieces so small I was amazed she'd even used them. You did what you had to... The material is the kind that wouldn't be comfortable touching your skin but it would be very warm. My son is an old soul and loves the past and it's people. I told him he should ask his mom now for the quilt if he wants it. He will respect and care for it. Value comes into play in anything collectible but the people I respect the most value the history of the item more than money.

Steve I hope your car went to someone who loves history and makes sure it's story is told. That's what's important to me, the story. Some of us think were insignificant, myself included but in a hundred years the story is as important as the item,,,, atleast to me.

Good luck Steve and I hope you fair well with your health.

 

[harleynut]

I appreciate what your thoughts are because I will be going thru the same thing because of age and health issues. I got two As and they must go. Probably for a lot less than what I got into them. My grown kids have no interest in them. But, it is what it is. Best of luck Steve

 

[holdover]

Sorry to hear about your health condition. At 73 I am facing issues that I never thought I would have to deal with. I am fortunate that I have a son and two grandsons that enjoy my five model As and are in a financial situation that a future sale would not be necessary, and that brings me comfort. Best of luck and keep in touch.

 

[chap52]

We all are approaching that place in our lives where we will have to make those heartbreaking decisions. It's not what we have that matters, but what we pass on, both materially and our passions that will continue to bless and impact others.
As W.C. Fields said, "It's time to take the bull by the tail and face the situation."
Bless you and those that will walk in your footsteps. Chap

 

[steve s]

I appreciate what your thoughts are because I will be going thru the same thing because of age and health issues. I got two As and they must go. Probably for a lot less than what I got into them. My grown kids have no interest in them. But, it is what it is. Best of luck Steve

The body shop owner who did my mom's Model A told me that his trade magazines say you should expect to be able to sell a restored car for half of what you put into it. That turned out to be about rlght. When you own a car for nearly 60 years you have the opportunity to sink a lot of money in it. I never really worried about it as an investment, any more than when I bought anything else that I wanted did I expect that it would have equal or greater value to someone else after I was done with it. It was fun for me!

 

[jimalabam]

Steve: Stay as active as you can. Driving the "A" is great fun, but you can stay BZ with other related "A" hobbies and please stay on the barn. Best wishes, Jim Langley..

 

[Jeff/Illinois]

Sorry to hear of your health issues.

It is real hard to let go of a car like this one, that you have owned for so long and made a lot of good memories with.

 

[Synchro909]

When the time comes for me to sell my cars, I won't have a problem with it. They are just things. I will have had my time with them and had my fun out of them. Whatever the new owner does with them will bring him fun too. That will be my legacy with them.
I know that when I go, my family will talk of the good times their parents had with those cars (although they can't understand why we do) and that will in turn, give them comfort. We are only the custodians of these cars for a short while, then someone else will take their turn. There are no pockets in shrouds!

 

[steve s]

When the time comes for me to sell my cars, I won't have a problem with it. They are just things......

This is how I feel--theoretically. However, one of the traits of personalities of the MBTI"s ENTJ type is an irrationally strong attachment to their things. This is true in my case: there's hardly a day has gone by since I accepted $100 as trade-in value on my second car that I don't kick myself. Similarly, for my first guitar, which was burgled.

Letting my Ford go was totally a rational decision.