Weird place for an epiphony...

Ed story #toomany....
Had the GTX out again today after her triumphant participation in last weekends' Heritage Days Parade (clutch knee STILL raising hell about that one) for one last ride before the weather goes to crap the rest of the week...
Nice drive out in the country (during working hours, so even sweeter ) but a couple minor issues were bugging me, so when I got back and let it cool off a bit, I got her up in the air on the floor jack (yes, people, I used a damn jack stand this time) and got under there.

Now, I'm sure I'm not alone in this - when I'm getting down on the floor and under the car, I make all sorts of assorted noises (wife says it sounds like a wounded walrus). I get under there, looking for a random rattle and a bit of slop in the clutch pedal.
I'm under there, cussing as I bang against various car underbelly obstacles (and cursing that damn jack stand for being in the way)...when something happened.

I'll try to explain:
First, I saw the missing clip where the clutch rod meets the pivot on the z-bar.
Problem #1, identified. Kinda tickled I found that so quickly.
Second, I found the rattle just as quickly (darn header collector bolt lost a nut - again).
Problem #2, identified. Ok, getting a little more confident in my decrepit abilities...
Third, I found the source of the slight oil leak near the starter (a few of the pan bolts needed some tweaking). Damn, three issues discovered quickly!
Ok, wounded walrus rolled back outta there and collected the needed tools and even found the needed clip (thank you Dan Brewer!).
WW goes back under. Oof, grunt, snap, pop...

I'm cussing and fighting the collector bolt (can't get a decent swing on it with anything!) when it hits me...
- I'm under a car, just like when I was a kid and Pop was teaching me how.
- I'm still actually effing ALIVE to even BE under a car - and I'm actually being productive, too!
Nobody but me out there, nobody to hear me suddenly start talking to Pop like he was still alive and under there with me, showing me how to do things.
Yep, genuinely would have looked like insanity had anyone wandered in the garage at that moment. Eh, that's ok, too.

Yeah, Pop. I remember.

At least you use a Jack stand this time, one of the very first things I buy when I joined FBBO was a pair of good Jack stands, We all talk alone, nothing to worry about, I give my life if I just could say to my grandma how much i love her, how much i need her, and how i deeply miss her.
Mi abuelita Carmen.
Not me, is a niece that I don't like

Jack stands are like goal posts.
They're there when you need them.

Jack stands are mandatory at FBBO!!!!

oldbee said:

Jack stands are mandatory at FBBO!!!!

Click to expand...

Yes yes, I actually think of you guys when I reach for them now....
well, that and I figure I've burned up all my chances at this point.
I mean, how many times does a fella need a vehicle falling on him before he learns?
Apparently, Ed's need about a half dozen or so.

I guess you had to be there....
I went from the usual getting agitated at being under there banging around
and rolling around on the concrete - to an absolute moment of zen, kinda.
I have no doubt I was "visited" last evening.
That sort of stuff used to freak me out or I'd be in denial it ever happened.
Not anymore, not after what I've been through.
I can actually recognize those moments when they happen - and enjoy them now.
It ain't a bad gig.

Awesome when those memories pop up. Reminds me of a song by country singer David Ball "When the Thought of YOU Catches Up With Me"

moparedtn said:

I guess you had to be there....
I went from the usual getting agitated at being under there banging around
and rolling around on the concrete - to an absolute moment of zen, kinda.
I have no doubt I was "visited" last evening.
That sort of stuff used to freak me out or I'd be in denial it ever happened.
Not anymore, not after what I've been through.
I can actually recognize those moments when they happen - and enjoy them now.
It ain't a bad gig.

Click to expand...

I can totally relate. I had one of those moments a few weeks ago. I was draining the water, winterizing my summer house. Walking around with my plumbers bucket in my flannel shirt. It hit me I was doing and dressed exactly how my father did it for years. And yeah, I was holding his rigid pipe wrench when I thought it. Was a great feeling.

NJRR said:

I can totally relate. I had one of those moments a few weeks ago. I was draining the water, winterizing my summer house. Walking around with my plumbers bucket in my flannel shirt. It hit me I was doing and dressed exactly how my father did it for years. And yeah, I was holding his rigid pipe wrench when I thought it. Was a great feeling.

Click to expand...

There ya go. Good on ya!
Yeah, I haven't used them in a while now, but I still have my Ridgid 18" & 24" pipe wrenches I've owned for
decades (I'm an old sprinkler guy, ya know).
Them's tools ya never loan out.