In the past four weeks I have lost two of the dearest friends I've ever had. Both were car enthusiasts but not particularly into Pintos. Putting my thoughts into written word is theraputic for me right now but if anyone finds my ramblings inappropriate, PM me and I will remove the post. Because we all worked together, I actually met both of these fellows on the same day: September 29, 1980. The friendship that developed over the ensuing 34 years was nothing short of amazing. I will cherish their memories forever.
Charlie:
I considered Charlie the big brother I never had. We were so much alike in some ways that it was almost scary. He traveled the country with me on numerous occasions, bringing home whatever old car I happened to buy. The last trip we took together was to Chapel Hill, NC when I purchased my '72 Pinto Squire last year. We attended many car shows together and anyone who met me at Carlisle in 2008, would have met Charlie as well. It was incredibly hot and we lost our way and were wandering aimlessly when Connie Rainey was kind enough to pick us up in her gorgeous orange Pinto and drive us back to where the PCCA was. He had planned to accompany me back there in 2011 for the 40th Anniversary but ended up having back surgery and was unable to go. On June 12th he underwent what should have been an uneventful double bypass surgery. Unfortunately, he never awakened after surgery. He died on June 23rd.
Jeff:
Jeff was a Lincoln man; an interest he attributed to me. He always drove Cadillacs until one extremely cold night (-16 degrees) in late 1983, at the end of a 12-hour shift, he experienced a dead battery. Knowing he was tired, I tossed him my keys and told to take my car home and I'd charge his battery overnight while I was working. I had a 1981 Town Car at the time. When he returned to relieve me the next morning he said, "I've got to get me one of those!" Sure enough, he traded his Cadillac Deville on a Town Car a month or so later and remained in Lincolns from that point on. He was one of the funniest men I've ever known - no matter how you felt, a few minutes with Jeff and he'd have you laughing. Last Monday I bought a 2014 Mustang convertible. Jeff looked it over Tuesday and then predicted that riding around with the top down, the wind would blow out what little hair I have left! I last saw him Thursday night at which point he told me to have a nice weekend. Then, for reasons known only to himself, he committed suicide Saturday. He was 54.
The loss of these two gentlemen is hard. Charlie was, hands down, my best friend ever, but Jeff ran a close second. I had eleven days to process the concept that Charlie wasn't going to make it. Jeff's death came totally unexpected and, in many ways, that makes it harder. At any rate, if you're still reading, I thank you for allowing me to vent.
Dwayne