Cars Sold; Moving Forward

[Guest]

"I'm walking down the lonely street of dreams" __ Whitesnake __ 'Here I Go Again On My Own'


I never thought I'd say or type these words...
"My Monte Carlos are sold."

That is, they'll be gone by the end of this weekend (last of July 2012), unless a "miracle" happens yet this week (don't see that being the case).


I wouldn't have believed it if someone had told me while I was on my 2011 9,000+ mile road trip that, in the next 12+ months, I'd...
...have my 4th open heart surgery 11/11/2011 (will have another CT scan in mid-August)
...lose my job less than 3 weeks after returning to full-time (still searching)
...attend the 2012 MC Nationals & be hospitalized w/pneumonia 6 hours after returning home (still on medication)
...& be "monte less" (due to medical bills, etc.; my cars are considered "assets")....

But, all of that has/is happening.


A few weeks ago, I happened to see the series finale of "Frasier", the popular "Cheers" spin-off. At the end of the episode, Frasier quotes a shortened version of Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Ulysses":
"It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And though we are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are—
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will;
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

After reciting the poem, Frasier remarks:
"I’ve been thinking about that poem a lot lately, & I think what it says is that, while it’s tempting to play it safe, the more we’re willing to risk, the more alive we are. In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took."


I've taken chances & let chances slip away. Since I'll be "free-er", maybe it's time to take a few more chances; life has a way of changing us in ways we never expect. While I am very unhappy right now, perhaps my MCs are better off with new owners. Maybe I'm better off, too; after all, my rear-wheel-drive-only-nameplate Caprice Classic (1979 sedan) remains with me.


"Another dream that ended way too soon" __ Restless Heart __ 'The Bluest Eyes In Texas'


It has been a great run, though, owning 5 MCs for 9 years, 1 for ~20 years. I've met many of you in person via my road trips, cruise nights, events & car shows, including the 2008 MidSummer Chitown Gathering, which set a record of 65 people & is the ONLY gathering/event that ALL of my MCs attended together:
http://pics.projectmonte.com/album/12498


"This is just a stop on the way to where I'm going" __ Carrie Underwood __ 'Temporary Home'


I will continue to visit as regularly as possible, though in the immediate future perhaps not so much. So, if you want to keep in contact, please do via my...

...website (changes soon?)...:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/

...recently-reactivated Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/knightcaprice269177989

...EM & PH#:
faithcubsmc2691
@
aol.com

847-
337-
9897

...Roads'n'Wheels/Caprice Classic Forum:
http://rdwhl-capriceclassic.proboards.com/


I think that's it. I'd like to share more, but this post would be too long....



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | "only child" 1979 Caprice Classic
CHD.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I hope life will treat you kind" __ Dolly Parton __ 'I Will Always Love You'

 

[Carol]

Great post. Sounds like you have your act together. Good luck in your new life.

 

[Superbob]

I know it must be a sad time in many ways, but also it's a time for fresh starts and new opportunities. I wish you the best in those, Cort.

 

[kfay]

Cort, I'm so sorry you have found yourself at this place in your life. I wish there was something I could do to help you. I hope this new time in your life takes you to new and exciting places. I really wish you the very best.

Kim

 

[epstns]

Cort - I'd label this moment as being bitter-sweet. Yes, it is the end of many of the things you've held dear to your heart. That is the bitter part. The sweet part is the huge life you have yet in front of you. Many of us have reached crossroads such as yours, and most of us have come past them in a better place. I know I have. I have changed careers a couple of times, and had to work very hard because of it. In the end, though, I am working a job I really enjoy, with people I truly like. It took a few bumps and turns in the path to get here, but get here I did. You will, too - I know it and so do you. You just have to work your way through the winding paths to get where you are supposed to be. It may not be where you thought you would be, but there is a plan - we just don't always see it. You're too bright and too much a good person to be left along that path.

P.S. I sent an email to your aol account, but you never sent me a current resume. I have someone I want to share it with. Not sure where it will go, but any sort of positive activity is a step in the right direction.

 

[Lily]

Yes, as others said, Wishing You the Best

 

[Lionheart]

Cort,
It's been fun to read about your cars and trips over the years. Thanks for sharing those adventures with us. You know, one thing that you can't get rid of is your knowledge and expertise of Monte Carlos. That will stay with you forever. There will be other MCs in your life, they're out there, maybe just around the corner too, waiting for you. So as you enter this new adventure of your life please keep us in the loop. And hang in there, we're rooting for you!
All the Best,
John

 

[escargome]

Cort,
No matter what, you will always have a special place in my heart. My son is a gear-head and a big fan of Monte Carlo's so from the time I joined this forum, your posts were always good ones with lots of thought provoking ideas and quotes. Stay strong, just cause that door slammed in your face, I know that a window will open for you so you can continue travelling down this sometimes lost highway. I wish you only the very very best.

 

[Duffey]

Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.
~ James Bryant Conant (1893 - 1978)

I'm not comparing you to a turtle, Cort, but I do want to reinforce your belief that sometimes unwelcome change brings unforeseeable rewards. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping your circumstances all change for the better, soon.

 

[njean]

Dear Cort,

I am sadden to hear of the hardships and heartaches you are being faced with at the moment.

I've always believed that everything happens for a reason...good or bad....when one door closes another one opens. I believe that it's these trials and tribulations in our life, that measure who we are and how we can survive and move on. And that's what you must do now, my friend. Shake off the negative and focus only on the positive.

I pray your life takes on a good and positive turn and that nothing squelches that wonderful, bright spirit that only you possess.

 

[Madsometimes]

All the best, Cort. Hoping that things improve for you really soon.

 

[nngbwh]

Hang in there, Cort. You will make it and survive. Those dark moments will soon past and you will soon be on a rise again.

 

[spartangator]

As others have written, Cort, thank you for the update, and we're all looking forward to hearing about your upcoming successes. As you describe, it's been a time of transition, one you've been working through for a while, but your perspective is such an admirable one that is leading you to exciting next steps. All the best.

 

[Guest]

P.S. I sent an email to your aol account, but you never sent me a current resume. I have someone I want to share it with. Not sure where it will go, but any sort of positive activity is a step in the right direction.

OK ... that's weird. I actually sent it twice. You Emailed me, Friday, June 22. I responded to you that same day via my "career4cs" address. I then re-sent it July 25.... Maybe it went to your SPAM folder or something? Let me know if I need to resend it ... you have my cell#

It's been fun to read about your cars and trips over the years.

(and)

your posts were always good ones with lots of thought provoking ideas and quotes.

Well, cool! Glad you've enjoyed the posts. Sometimes, I wonder if people enjoy them or not...!

I've always believed that everything happens for a reason...good or bad....when one door closes another one opens. I believe that it's these trials and tribulations in our life, that measure who we are and how we can survive and move on. And that's what you must do now, my friend. Shake off the negative and focus only on the positive.

I'm trying to do that ... but it just keeps getting harder, and I'm not sure how much more I can take ......


"When we make choices we gotta live with them" __ Darius Rucker __ 'Don't Think I Don't Think About It'


I am amazed by (& somewhat speechless about) the replies here & via Emails/PMs/FB. Thank you doesn't seem to be enough. I know I have support from friends/family (even those who've been silent), but that only goes so far...I don't have a "we". Even so, I will return "down the road"....


Someone mentioned that maybe my "miracle" is just being alive & I should be happy with that. I can't argue; perhaps life turning around for me is too much to ask. As someone else told me personally, while we are not given more than we can handle, we are, generally given what we deserve. I take that FWIW. Fighting pneumonia, searching for a new job & paying medical bills isn't fun, but I'm still trying to look ahead & keep up hope/spirits/positivity....

But, I'd be lying if I said I didn't cry the last weekend of July. Talk about TOUGH, in many ways. The '72 left Saturday; the '76 & '87 left Sunday. All 3 are now in new homes, better than what I could ever give them....
'72 to Minnesota
'76 to far northern IL
'87 to MIchigan

The '81 will go to either my parents or sister/bro-in-law.


Meanwhile, in a strange twist of fate, my '79 MC will remain mine, for now. So, I will have a '79 MC & a 1979 Caprice Classic. I will continue the 3rd generation MC board & be active there:
http://thirdgenmontes.proboards.com/index.cgi?

[The 6th generation yahoo group, after consulting with Rob (who created it 12 years ago), will most-likely be closed.]


I'll also be on the Roads'n'Wheels/Caprice Classic Forum:
http://rdwhl-capriceclassic.proboards.com/

Or, of course, FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/knightcaprice269177989


If interested, check out my website BEFORE it changes. Right now, it includes road trip pics, my MC story, radio show playlist, different collections, etc.:
http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/

Additional pics (including Route 66 & other recent road trips) are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfan26917


7 "last" pictures....

07/28/2012 ... Last day all 5 of my MCs are a family. Seen best here: 1987 (blue), 1979 (green), 1981 (tan).

07/28/2012 ... Last day all 5 of my MCs are a family. Seen best here: 1981 (tan), 1972 (brown), 1976 (black).

07/28/2012 ... My 1972 MC sold & ready to go to its new home:

07/29/2012 ... My 1976 MC sold & ready to go to its new home. Look at that dirty, but still shiny, bumper.

07/29/2012 ... My 1976 MC sold & ready to go to its new home. Once again, I see that "frown" in the tail end ... the same "frown" I saw in my parents' 1976 MC when we traded it, September 1984.

07/29/2012 ... My 1987 MC sold & ready to go to its new home. By the time this one was out the door of the garage/storage barn, I couldn't take it anymore. After the new owner left, I sat in my '81 MC for almost an hour. I don't think I need to spell out the emotions.... This is the one that my nephew had "claimed" just 8 months prior....

07/29/2012 ... & then there were 2; 1981 MC (tan) & 1979 MC (light green). While you can't see it all that well in this shot, the '81 MC has the now former plates of my '76 (SECND 76) & '87 (CDS MC 87) MCs, while the '79 MC holds the former plate of my '72 MC (BRWNY 72). I had taken another pic with flash, but this one seems a bit more ... appropriate.

Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker + cowValve | '79 MC + 1979 Caprice Classic
CHD.MC.CC + RoadTrips.hobbies.RadioShows.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Lately I've been thinking I should move away" __ Eddy Money __ 'I'll Get By'

 

[Duffey]

I'm glad the 79 MC and 79 Caprice Classic are with you, and I'm confident that when your circumstances change, your 81 is in close proximity for you to reclaim it.
By the way, I strongly disagree with the notion that you get what you deserve. If you got what you deserve, you'd be a multi-millionaire.

 

[epstns]

Cort - I did get the second email. Yes, the email system works, but I think maybe the issue was on my end. We had some phantoms in the system for a couple of days.

I was thinking of you last evening. We stopped at a local place for frozen yogurt, and into the gas station/garage across the street pulled a '76 MC. It was very, very clean and shiny - obviously somebody's toy - sepecially since there was the unmistakable sound of a very large rat motor under the long, shiny hood. Modestly loud exhaust, very lumpy idle. Must have been at least a full-race cam in that one. My wife never did figure out what I was grinning about, but that sound brought back many memories. . .