Over The Hill Gang , Old Farts with Young Cars

[hotrodsally]

We should all stop to smell the flowers, only way to get through life!

Everyone has "Aha!" moments in their lives when they encounter or are touched by something that forever changes them. My earliest "Aha" moment that I recall was when I was 11 or 12.

My eldest brother's best high school friend, Lee, had pulled up to our house in a brand new '67 or '68 Camaro. It was Mountain Green Metallic with a black vinyl roof. I took one look and my taste for F-Bodies was forever forged. The thought racing through my mind was "I HAVE GOT TO GET ME ONE A THESE!!" I was smitten (and I had a little crush on Lee, too).

Over the years, as a Firebird and Camaro owner, I've recounted the story of my brother's best friend many times - the memory of the cute blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy in the driver's seat always in the back of my mind.

I spoke to my brother earlier today to catch up on plans for a family vacation in a couple of weeks. He told me that he had gotten a call from Lee's wife. Lee, now in his early 60s, passed away last Sunday after a long illness.

I recounted this story to my brother as he spoke of his friend. I hope Lee lived a rich and full life; I pray for his family.

As I write this, I'm remembering that young man with blonde hair and dancing blue eyes and I realize that a part of him has been with me most of my life; I wonder if he knew that. I wonder if he knew how I'd been influenced by his simply being there on that day.

I wonder if anyone ever realizes the impact of their actions, grand or small, deliberate or unintentional; the impact of their words, kind or cutting, truths or faleshoods; the impact of their very presence or absence.

Today, Lee is not in the back of my mind, but front and center.

Somehow, today I think he knows. RIP Lee Gray.

I will always remember you.

[Mr Twisty]

My condolences Sally... that's pretty profound

[hotrodsally]

Thanks MisterCamaro69. I'm sure everyone has a story about the moment when they were smitten with F-bodies.

Any one care to share?

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by CC Performance

Anyone seen this: pretty cool

cool way to get hitched

[Mr Twisty]

Originally Posted by hotrodsally

Thanks MisterCamaro69. I'm sure everyone has a story about the moment when they were smitten with F-bodies.

Any one care to share?

Mine started in 76 when I was driving thru town, I saw a 69 with the hood up in a carport beside a 55 chev. pickup. Decided to stop and see what was up. The guy tells me he pulled the engine from the Camaro to put in the pickup, but the motor mounts didn't line up and it would cost $75 to weld them. Told me if I welded the mounts in I could have the Camaro, or he'd take $75 bucks for it. He had his $75 the next day.

Skip ahead to a $25 283 from a wrecked Impala, and a few odds n ends, I had my first car and came in a little under $200

That began my Camaro relationship... followed by a 79 Z28 2nd gen, 84 Z28 & 86 RS 3rd gens, (insert raising kids here) and my last was an 01vert. 4th gen. Ya'll notice what's missing?

[lightning]

Originally Posted by hotrodsally

Today, Lee is not in the back of my mind, but front and center.

Somehow, today I think he knows. RIP Lee Gray.

I will always remember you.

I'm sure he knows hotrodsally. And I'm sure he appreciates your sentiments.

[lightning]

Originally Posted by hotrodsally

Thanks MisterCamaro69. I'm sure everyone has a story about the moment when they were smitten with F-bodies.

Any one care to share?

I was 16, almost 17, on a hot summer day. I lived there in Las Vegas where you live hotrodsally. My buddy Gary Leeth and I were walking back to his house from somewhere when we heard a car idling and rolling slowly towards us from behind. We both turned to see what was making that nice V8 rumble. That is when I saw my first Camaro. It was Royal Blue with a white nose stripe. It had a 350 emblem on the side at the front and an SS on the grill. My first love. And man I fell hard. Gary and I said, almost simultaneouly, "I want one of those". We were both smitten. I've been in lust ever since. My 2010 is my first F-body though. I've just never had the money till about 2 years ago.

[hotrodsally]

Originally Posted by lightning

I was 16, almost 17, on a hot summer day. I lived there in Las Vegas where you live hotrodsally. My buddy Gary Leeth and I were walking back to his house from somewhere when we heard a car idling and rolling slowly towards us from behind. We both turned to see what was making that nice V8 rumble. That is when I saw my first Camaro. It was Royal Blue with a white nose stripe. It had a 350 emblem on the side at the front and an SS on the grill. My first love. And man I fell hard. Gary and I said, almost simultaneouly, "I want one of those". We were both smitten. I've been in lust ever since. My 2010 is my first F-body though. I've just never had the money till about 2 years ago.

Glad to hear you were able to realize your dream.

[dianeokie]

Originally Posted by hotrodsally

Everyone has "Aha!" moments in their lives when they encounter or are touched by something that forever changes them. My earliest "Aha" moment that I recall was when I was 11 or 12.

My eldest brother's best high school friend, Lee, had pulled up to our house in a brand new '67 or '68 Camaro. It was Mountain Green Metallic with a black vinyl roof. I took one look and my taste for F-Bodies was forever forged. The thought racing through my mind was "I HAVE GOT TO GET ME ONE A THESE!!" I was smitten (and I had a little crush on Lee, too).

Over the years, as a Firebird and Camaro owner, I've recounted the story of my brother's best friend many times - the memory of the cute blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy in the driver's seat always in the back of my mind.

I spoke to my brother earlier today to catch up on plans for a family vacation in a couple of weeks. He told me that he had gotten a call from Lee's wife. Lee, now in his early 60s, passed away last Sunday after a long illness.

I recounted this story to my brother as he spoke of his friend. I hope Lee lived a rich and full life; I pray for his family.

As I write this, I'm remembering that young man with blonde hair and dancing blue eyes and I realize that a part of him has been with me most of my life; I wonder if he knew that. I wonder if he knew how I'd been influenced by his simply being there on that day.

I wonder if anyone ever realizes the impact of their actions, grand or small, deliberate or unintentional; the impact of their words, kind or cutting, truths or faleshoods; the impact of their very presence or absence.

Today, Lee is not in the back of my mind, but front and center.

Somehow, today I think he knows. RIP Lee Gray.

I will always remember you.

Good story...so many of those moments don't come to fruition because we don't take that first step...don't act on what our heart tells us. So good that you can actually put your thoughts down in writing, because then they are there forever, and not just a fleeting moment. I'm sorry for that heartache you have, but sounds like you're remembering the good, not the bad!

[hotrodsally]

Originally Posted by dianeokie

Good story...so many of those moments don't come to fruition because we don't take that first step...don't act on what our heart tells us. So good that you can actually put your thoughts down in writing, because then they are there forever, and not just a fleeting moment. I'm sorry for that heartache you have, but sounds like you're remembering the good, not the bad!

Thanks Diane. The thought of Lee always makes me smile. To me he will always be that cute blonde-haired, blue-eyed guy in the driver's seat...

[CC Performance]

HRS I am very sorry for your loss, some of us have been going through this lately. I was very appreciative of the support I got from the members in this thread when I was feeling really down about things. I'm here if you need to talk and Dianne was especially helpful for me. I try and remember the good times and there isn't a day that goes by that the departed isn't in my/ our thoughts. I hope you have a real nice week

[CC Performance]

Originally Posted by MisterCamaro69

cool way to get hitched

I'm not a girly man by any means but that brought a tear to my eye. The singing was so beautiful it really was special.

[hotrodsally]

Originally Posted by CC Performance

HRS I am very sorry for your loss, some of us have been going through this lately. I was very appreciative of the support I got from the members in this thread when I was feeling really down about things. I'm here if you need to talk and Dianne was especially helpful for me. I try and remember the good times and there isn't a day that goes by that the departed isn't in my/ our thoughts. I hope you have a real nice week

CC, thanks for your kindness and consideration.

[hotrodsally]

[QUOTE=CC Performance;3305943]I'm not a girly man by any means but that brought a tear to my eye. The singing was so beautiful it really was special. [/QUOTE

CC, I agree that it was very touching. I am not a girly man either , I am a girly-girl and when the bride and groom started getting teary and choked up, I was right there with 'em...