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Subject:Re: The Death of My Beloved
From:Stephen Grisanti
Date:Thu, 4 Jul 2024 14:04:14 -0400

Attaboy!

Stephen

Mobile

> On Jul 4, 2024, at 1:01 PM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Thanks Eric,
> '
> I'll keep you and everyone posted on what happens next. There could be a
> resurrection.
> 
>> On Thu, Jul 4, 2024 at 10:20 AM Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi John,
>> 
>>        I’m very sorry to hear this happened.  I know you have been a long
>> term lover of the vanagon.  I share your spirit.  Still I know there will
>> come a time I need to let mine go.  But, sometimes I think it is time and
>> yet I soldier on.
>> 
>>        I’m sure this is a terrible shock.  I’d recommend you take your
>> time.  Maybe the van is done, or maybe it can get a new roof and interior
>> parts.  All depends on the body damage and insurance company.
>> 
>>        I also, ask, that if they total it consider seeing if you can keep
>> the salvage.  A a person with good skills and little money may be able to
>> put it back on the road.  I know VW bus people like that.
>> 
>> Also, recently, a friends clean healthy Westfalia was totaled by a semi.
>> He kept the salvage and with the insurance purchased a replacement
>> Westfalia.
>>        He then found lots of folks in need of Westfalia parts, and for
>> minimal cost handed out tons of hard to find parts from his totaled van.
>> My vans are both healthier because of him.  He had the real old VW sharing
>> philosophy.
>> 
>>        So, there may be a silver lining to your situation.
>>        I know lots of folks with good vanagon skills and good roofs, but
>> rusted out bodies.
>> Hopefully yours can be fixed and even get a nice paint job.  But if not.
>> Someone is likely able to invest many hours to bring it back.
>> 
>> I’m a optimist.
>> 
>>        John, thank you for the years of stories, advice, and VW bus
>> spirit.  And also for keeping the memory of Uncle Joel strong.
>> 
>> Warmly,
>> 
>> Eric Caron
>> 
>> 
>>>> On Jul 3, 2024, at 11:31 PM, OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>>> 
>>>       Saying that’s a major huge bummer is a major huge understatement ~
>>> 
>>> & interesting to Me that You “would never have thought” as I think about
>> it
>>> 
>>> a lot > We get big winds here often & My 90Westy VDubaru sits beneath the
>>> 
>>> branches of My neighbors 60ft tall Afghan Pine ~
>>> 
>>>                                                       ORR ~ DeanB
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On 1 Jul , 2024, at 11:54 AM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@GMAIL.COM>
>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> It has happened - and  in a way I would never have thought of in a
>> million
>>>> years.
>>>> 
>>>> My wonderful 1991 Blue Carat with new 2.5L Subaru engine was killed
>> when a
>>>> huge tree split, and 1/2 of that tree fell on the van, crushing in the
>>>> top,  and at the same time destroying the internal air conditioning
>> system.
>>>> 
>>>> Given age of the vehicle, difficulty in getting parts, no shop in this
>>>> region wants to take it on for repair. Almost dead certain the
>> insurance co
>>>> will write it off.
>>>> 
>>>> I'm so sad. This was to be my last Vanagon.
>>