If your on this list, you gotta love this.

Ron Semko
Orlando, Florida

Woody Halsey wrote:

> Dear Friends,
>
> Here's my two cents worth ...
>
> My sense is  that G. Matthew has articulated the thoughts of many of us
> most eloquently, and I add my thanks to those already expressed. (Note to
> G. Matthew: What is your line of work again?)
>
> My only slight cavil with his compelling description of this group (and BTW
> let us all pause to marvel at how a brand new technology has allowed us to
> share information, opinions and, yes, news of blessed events from time to
> time among like-minded citizens) is that I do not think there are many
> techno-*phobes* hanging around here. There are those who seem to have a
> dazzling grasp of the physics, electronics, and chemistry concepts that
> explain why our beasts bray or balk; there are those who haven't studied
> the engineering, but have a lot of practical experience and knowledge; and
> there are the literary types like me who are clueless about the science,
> but not fearful of getting our hands dirty and always anxious to learn. And
> the more I pull things apart and examine them, the less hesitant I become
> and the more respectful I am of those who know how to put it all together.
>
> What keeps me checking the traffic every morning -- and deleting before
> opening all the stuff that is not relevant to my plain vanilla gas
> "powered" passenger van -- is the fact that so many list members more
> knowledgable than I are so generous with their time and expertise. Where
> else can you find people who have squirreled away the odd parts you might
> need and who are even willing to *lend* something worth serious money to a
> stranger with full confidence that he'll give it back? And where else can
> you find a group of people just as odd and stubborn as you?!
>
> Re babies: I think the Vanagon is the ultimate kids' car and I love hearing
> about babies born and three-year olds dancing. When they get a little older
> their Moms and Dads will be able to toss their bicycles in too, out of the
> rain. And then teach them to drive on a machine they have some feeling for.
>
> Yesterday, as I was grumbling about the fact that I will be spending big
> bucks to replace the long metal coolant lines and repair the leak somewhere
> in the fuel tank hook-up on my 83.5 stumbler, I took solace at the
> excellent Chinese restaurant near my office. The little paper that came out
> of my fortune cookie (a tradition which BTW is unknown in China) said
> simply:
>
> "NOTHING IS BEYOND ALL REPAIR"
>
> Best wishes to all,
>
> Woody