D-O-N-E (An Ed Mini-Story)

[moparedtn]

Ed Mini-Story Time:
Lisa and I had Fred out yesterday for a nice drive up to Church Hill for weekly shopping. We took backroads for a change;
recent weather in these parts having been downright gorgeous and all, it made for a really nice drive - even with my usual sawing
at the wheel (manual steering) on these curvy, hilly roads and all.
The car has been running quite well as of late, especially since I recently put a set of unobtanium J11 Champions in him and did
a few spark plug cable repairs and such - dare I say, the best that Fred has ever ran?

It drove yesterday so beautifully that it occured to me:
After 14+ years of fixing, replacing, mending most every mechanical part on him...that dare I say it?
Fred was d-o-n-e. As in completed.
There, I whispered it...

Then, the next thing occured to me:
I'd always said that if the car ever really got d-o-n-e, that I'd be right behind it - what with me spending so much
time working on it between medical trevails ("therapy") while healing myself and all.
As such, as long as the car needed more work, I'd still be around to see to it eventually, too, right?
Well...
If what I've always said is really true - if the car is now d-o-n-e - I suppose that would mean I am too, eh?

It does stand to reason, in light of recent events I suppose:
- Career over - it was d-o-n-e with me before I was done with it; forced into early retirement in lieu of younger folks - hello, Social Security!
- Health battles d-o-n-e - what I got left is all there is, no further improvements possible, "accelerated aging" in high gear now
- Heck, some days even Lisa is d-o-n-e with me (can't blame her)
- Home/property/vehicle repairs/projects d-o-n-e (didn't want to leave a mess)
I sensed a theme at this point.... with all roads leading to me being d-o-n-e.

There was no emotional angle to it, just a supposedly logical thought progression that lead to a "d-o-n-e" conclusion.
A sobering thought for sure, from a fella always accused by those who know me of thinking too much ("over-thinking") eh?
This crap could get sort of depressing, though....
Fortunately, there was still another 15 minutes left in the drive until we reached our destination, leaving plenty of time
for my over-thinking (albeit, age-addled) brain to continue this train of thought:
Of course! Salvation via yet more conclusions based on "logic" arrived...

Old cars never really ARE totally d-o-n-e (it's a hobby, right??)
And Fred's front end COULD use a rebuild....so maybe he isn't quite d-o-n-e just yet, after all.

So, by my own inference...just maybe - neither am I?

 

[The Rebel]

I'd say nothing is truly ever done as there is always something that might need to be tweaked here or there, now or in the future.

I'd even include washing, waxing, detailing, oil changes...etc...so in short there's always something to do.

 

[Dakar Timm]

When we brought home the '66 Coronet from my father in laws house ,my wife thought it was perfect . After almost 5 years of continual repairs , I realized ,there was only a pair of mufflers to replace and some speakers to hide .
We have a few boats that will keep me occupied for eternity

 

[Skytrooper]

Fred will Always need something, so he will never truly be “Done”. As for you Ed, I think you will outlive your own expectations! You have a lot of grit. Keep on keeping on !

 

[davek]

Nope Fred is not done and neither are you my friend. So order that front end kit and we will go from there. Glad to see you post Ed, but I need to add this

 

[threewood]

Ed, there will always be something to do on our cars. Always. And Fred will need you there, cussing and banging tools to fix/repair/replace whatever needs done.

I thought I was done with my Belvedere. Nope. A/C went in not too long ago. Then I thought, "I like the old wheels, tires and hubcaps," so I just did those. I can't wait for the next work order from the car.

 

[3sloppydogs]

Nope Fred is not done and neither are you

 

[BDF6]

Are you done telling stories Ed?
I didn't think so, so- NOT D-O-N-E.

 

[moparedtn]

Nope Fred is not done and neither are you my friend. So order that front end kit and we will go from there. Glad to see you post Ed, but I need to add this

Thanks, my friend. What you want pics of?

 

[OneWheelPeel]

I thought the story was going to go more like “The car is finally D.O. **** what’s that sound?”

 

[moparedtn]

I thought the story was going to go more like “The car is finally D.O. **** what’s that sound?”

No, I can honestly say all the years of effort and investment have been rewarded and Fred is doing just fine.

 

[toolmanmike]

Good to hear you got Fred running like a champ. I have been on some cruises in the hills and curves with my old cars. It is great fun but can get a bit dicey with 4 wheel drums and a single pot master cylinder.

 

[davek]

Thanks, my friend. What you want pics of?

Fred

 

[moparedtn]

Fred

OH man, there's gotta be dozens on here already my friend.
Tell ya what, here's a few another fella took of him at last Friday evening's Subway Cruise-In:






He's no prettier than he ever was, but at least I haven't harmed him much in recent past.
Thanks, Dave. Really appreciate the DM's, my friend.

 

[moparedtn]

Good to hear you got Fred running like a champ. I have been on some cruises in the hills and curves with my old cars. It is great fun but can get a bit dicey with 4 wheel drums and a single pot master cylinder.

It's the prettiest time of year here in God's country. I love the combination of country roads and low population,
even with the relative increase in popularity shown in the "invasion" we've seen from folks from yankee states
(and surprisingly, a lot of Florida transplants too?) and the fall colors are amazing in these hills.

 

[Tinker67]

Great story as usual Ed. I retired in Jan.'13 haven't missed work at all. What you and Lisa need is new family member. A Dog, a family has to have a Dog. ask how I know.

 

[moparedtn]

Great story as usual Ed. I retired in Jan.'13 haven't missed work at all. What you and Lisa need is new family member. A Dog, a family has to have a Dog. ask how I know.

Thanks.
Oh, trust me, that subject comes up a lot - and it's me being resistant to it.
Despite having had dogs my whole life, Sasha broke my damn heart.
Can't say if or when that will ever change....

 

[OneWheelPeel]

Thanks.
Oh, trust me, that subject comes up a lot - and it's me being resistant to it.
Despite having had dogs my whole life, Sasha broke my damn heart.
Can't say if or when that will ever change....
View attachment 1935370

I’ve had a dogs my whole life too, growing up some of the dogs were older than me, always at least one but usually more in the family. Then a couple of years ago the last one passed so for the first time in like 53 years I was dogless. It’s still a little weird at times, I won’t go looking for one though, all the other ones usually found their way to us and that’s how I expect the next one to join the family.