Howard Options

[So.Cal.914]

From NARP:

Late Friday afternoon I received a call from Suzanne, Howard's daughter, regarding his MRI . The test showed that Howard had a major stroke while he was at rest. The result of this stroke is that the Howard we all know and love, would never be the same. The family has decided to let our friend leave us peacefully. I wish I could say more, but even this is difficult to type at this time.

I have opened this forum so that we may grieve together and pay our last respects to a man we all love.
It is expected that Howard will pass sometime this weekend.

Out of respect for Howard, all other board topics have been closed for the weekend. I will be reopen everything on Monday.

[Twystd1]

This is a story of cause and effect.

That means Howard is still having a profound and wonderful effect on me.

So Friday evening night I call Joe Sharp to talk to him about how I felt about Howard's condition and then his passing..
I had been in my head for days around this. And thats not my normal way of being.
Ya see... When someone I know dies. I simply go to a grateful spot in my heart for knowing someone as i long as I did and cherish the good memory's. Thats it... then I get on with my life.

Problem is... I couldn't get Howard out of my head. I just kept hurting.
And that was a very different emotion for me. And I knew I had to get out of the pain... And into the joy of who Howard was and the profound effect he had on me.

So I call up Joe Sharp. We chat about Howard, cars, emotions and the regular stuff guys talk about.

He tells me that he and THOMAS are going to the TRE swap meet in Los Angeles Saturday morning. And he asked me to come along.

Thats when the magic started.

I immediately thought I didn't want to go to LA and peruse through parts I don't need and I can't afford. And TRE is a 911 shop.. Not a 914 shop.

Going with my friends to TRE would obviously be a waste of time.

Thats when something in my head said. "Clayton go with the Joe. Have fun"

I freaked when I heard Howards voice in my head and in my heart.

Thats when I knew It was all going to be ok.

So I pick up Thomas and Joe Saturday morning... head up to TRE.... And start looking for goodys.

First thing I see are 2 TYPE IV engines sitting on the ground. I ask the attendant how much he wants for them. he says " How much you offering?"

I say a hundred bucks. As we had to start the haggling somewhere. And I thought if I lowballed the hell out of him... That would be a good place to start. I figured at a hundred bucks an engine... he might go up on his price a little less than usual.

The attendant radios to some guy named Gary and tells him I offer a hundred bucks for the lot... OOOOPss. I meant per engine as a starting price.

Gary radios back... SOLD...!! Two engine for a hundred bucks. A 1.7 and a 2.0 COMPLETE with injection and sheet metal clutch and PP.

I thought I had died and gone to heaven... then I remembered Howard had already done that.. So I didn't need to. Kewl.

Bottom line. Howards had a profound effect on me in life.....
He STILL keeps giving me gifts. AFTER he passes, They just keep on coming.

How I feel and sense Howards passing is now full of joy and fond memory's. He wants me... And us. To live, laugh, love, care about our very unique family. And most of all.... have fun.

So Howard... Thanks one more time for your help.
I'll talk to you later my friend.

Clayton










PS:
You folks have no idea how much I love this place and the NARP board. The people.. The cars. The care. Precious stuff.............