OT: 25-years today... Options

[Cracker]

Not looking for pity...just sharing some memories and pictures of my Dad (and my son). Please share your's too...

Twenty-five years ago and roughly 25-minutes my Dad was killed in a aircraft accident. He was 45-years young. He was a professional pilot with over 13,000 hours and worked for the FAA. Today is both a solemn time and a time for reflection for your family. He is sorely missed but his legacy lives on each day...our son is named after him - another "Rich Hull"!

Our Dad worked hard at his craft and sacrificed for our family...like most committed husbands and fathers genuinely do! He was selfless, devoted, a man of character, a better friend was not known, and a wonderful loving husband to my Mom.

For you veterans amongst us...thank you for your service! My Dad served two-tours in Vietnam and was shot down during his first. He spent nearly a year in the hospital and was paralyzed from the waste down. Over time he recovered, thank goodness, and then served a second time. He was a "scout" flying OH-6 helo's...

In December 2017, my parents would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. To this day, my Mom is still single - not even one date - she is not interested. She stated to her "teacher friends" at lunch one-week to the day before the accident that, "Rich has given me enough love to last a lifetime"; how prophetic that declaration proved to be!

I know this is "out of place" on the World but hey...25-year anniversaries only come around so often - I won't post this again for another 25-years!

PS: The last couple pictures are of my son and I on our trip out West this last Summer. There is no coincidence that I was 46 at that time. For you younger folks, do not hesitate in making the most of opportunities...tomorrow is not guaranteed! No regrets.

Tony/Cracker

[Tom_T]

Good Memories Tony!

Salute to your Dad's service during "Nam"! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)
.

To share about my Dad - he was Pitt Grad, Army ROTC there & Chemical Corps in Korea - & was deployed over to there before I was born. Apparently I was not to happy to greet that stranger when he got home a couple of years later, crying about that strange man holding me .... or so I was told.

Dad went on to a private sector career as a Chemist, therein having "invented" the polyurethane varnishes on most of our homes & furniture, & the polyurethane paints on our cars etc. while at Koppers in Pittsburgh PA; then he did chemistry & materials work for the defense & space programs/JPL while at Whittaker in San Diego CA - having 100s of patents in his name with both Koppers & Whittaker (they get "sold" for a $1 to the company though, when you work for them doing the research).

Then while at MSC in San Diego & Indianapolis, he did the materials work for GFRR-plastic housing (homes & apartments) & managd their Indy plant in the early `70's, all under HUD's "Operation Breakthrough" in the late 1960's (some may recall the modular concrete housing apartments at the Montreal Olympics, which was another Breakthrough team's product/system; & he then went onto segue into another career as a builder/developer, realtor & appraiser in Indy & Cancun MX until he retired in the early 2000s, after my Mom passed in 1999.

He passed in Dec. 2008, which got me thinking of my own mortality & the desire to get my 914 out of it's long slumber & moving towards restoration/repair - along with our kids being close to finishing up college & soon to be off on their own, so I'd hoped to have time & money to do so (har-har on the time availability! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) ). So I did start the long & slow process of assessing, researching, parts acquisition, & some piece-work on my 914 shortly after, in early 2009, & joined here then too.

A Porsche story about Dad - or more correctly, a "Porch" story:

When & got my 73 914-2.0 back in Dec. 75 - & ever since, my Dad would always tease me about "whether it was a 'front porch' or 'back porch' " - right up until the end. The Summer before he passed, he asked "if I still had that old front or back porch in my garage?", & if I was ever going to get it fixed & running again. He went on to reminisce about his old Whizzer motor bike, Indian motorcycle, 1949 & `69 Pontiacs, & other old cars that he & my uncles had owned & wished that they still had; & commended me for hanging onto my "Porch" even after it got whacked in the parking structure by the ditzy sorority gal in May 1985 - after its last rolling full resto just a couple of years & a about 20K miles before, in 1980-83.

Dad never owned a Porsche - & certainly knew how to pronounce it correctly - that was just his humor. Although, he did have a `78 VW Bus with the 2.0L motor which he kept as a runaround down in Cancun, & he was always ready to brag & tease me that "his Bus has the same 'Porsche' motor as my 'Front or Back Porch' - but his runs!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Cheers Dad! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
.

And I'd also like to do a word on another Dad & Granddad - who was one of our SoCal & PCA Zone 8 CW fixtures in our OCR Club & Z8 Concours world - Joe Nedza - who passed away a week ago this past Saturday, after suffering a heart attack during his daily morning run the Sunday before. Joe was a PCA Parade Judge, long time Zone 8 Master Judge, & the prior Zone 8 Concours Chair for 7-8 years; all while campaigning in beautiful Light Ivory 356, & having just won Street Class for Zone 8 2017 .... yet again, after a year off the Concours circuit after retiring from Z8 Chair.

Joe was an avid runner & bicyclist, USC Alum & HUGE SC Football Fan - driving his 356 to every home game, & wearing his Cardinal-&-Gold Hawaiian Shirts everywhere. He'd been retired from Assistant OC DA, & a prior Cal-DMV Attorney, & then with his own legal practice in his "retirement" - & someone who was always fit & active, & in great health.

So it was a surprise to lose Joe so unexpectedly, from something which we think of as our being somewhat protected from if we keep fit, active, etc. - so you just never can know!

Condolences to his wife Karen, his kids & grandkids & the rest of his family & friends.

Aloha Joe! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
.

And Joe being just a year older than I, plus having lost my Mom at just 67 - well there goes that mortality reminder again!

Cheers to your Dad Tony! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
///////