I would just like to observe what a refreshing and
enjoyable turn this List has taken in the last couple
days, especially in light of the recent hoo-ha
regarding Larry's possible engine woes.

I think Ben Huot said it best:
".... this is quite nice, i can imagine all of us
around a camp fire and a few beers, we would have a
lot of stuff to say, but am sure we would have a
blast..."

Not long ago, the Internet was hailed as the Great
Connector, but in many respects it has provided new
and speedier ways to insult and disparage vast numbers
of faceless strangers. With a few hearty (if not
well-placed) keystrokes, one can distribute to
hundreds of cyber-friends and -neighbors the kind of
rude and abusive comments one would never utter to
someone sharing a campfire or a six-pack with you.

Whether intentional or not, this "State Your Ages!"
thread has provided a nice counterpoint to last week,
and besides providing lots of laughs, commiserations,
and fond memories, has also allowed me to hear the
goofy stories behind all the names here.

For better or for worse, perhaps there really is a
virtual community here, after all ...

PS: On a related note, as Ben so eloquently put it:
"What the hell am i doing here, i have a type 2.....?"

Rather than risk losing Ben's mechanical aptitude,
helpful nature, hilarious English, and boyish good
looks, may I be the first to suggest the List take up
a collection and buy the poor Canadian bastard a
Vanagon to replace that wheezy old air-cooled
anachronism?

Besides reinstating his membership in the (ahem)
VANAGON.com Mailing List, this would also provide him
a much-needed respite from those hideous Solex
carburetors, and let him get back to tinkering with
his sorely missed cooling system.

I'd be glad to set-up a PayPal account for him ...

Jeffrey Earl
1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
www.vanthology.com

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