Cars Sold; Goodbye Time

"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. So, with my MCs gone, it is time to stop prolonging the inevitable & say goodbye.


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. Saying goodbye is one; 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'


Since I'll no longer visit here regularly, 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/


For now, I will continue to own the 3rd generation MC board...
http://thirdgenmontes.proboards.com/index.cgi?

...& run the 6th generation MC group...
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/y2kmontecarloclub/

...though, if anyone is interested in taking them over, please let me know.


I think that's it. I'd like to share more, but this post would be too long. Perhaps it IS too long for "goodbye". As a famous sportscaster said at the end of every baseball telecast, "So long, everybody!"



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'

Cort don't be a stranger and it's been 20yrs since I've had my 74 Malibu. And had to wait 17 to find a monte so don't lose faith and wife's job is pretty easy just hot

Cort, you never know whats ahead -you dont,try to keep your head up and every thing happens happens for a reason .Sounds cliche but it isnt. Good luck to you!

Good luck Cort I have enjoyed reading you posts and seeing pics of your travels.

I've had the pleasure of knowing you, Cort, since I joined the A-body Showcase group over in Yahoo! Groups and meeting you in person on your road trip to the Pacific Northwest. I am sorry to see that you're beloved collection of Monte Carlo's have to be sold. These are indeed hard times and we all must do what we need to in order to make it by. Maybe one day, you'll be on the hunt to retrieve your Monte's and reunite them once again. I wish you all the best and hope that things will turn around for you once again.

dragons_lair59 wrote:wife's job is pretty easy just hot

Hmm...send me more details via Email, please and thank you.

chevy76monteman wrote:I've had the pleasure of knowing you, Cort, since I joined the A-body Showcase group over in Yahoo! Groups and meeting you in person on your road trip to the Pacific Northwest.

That certainly was great to finally meet you, after all these years, Dustin. I'm glad we were able to work it out to meet.


"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, perhaps "goodbye" is a bit harsh; maybe "see you down the road" is better....


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'

Cort, I am sorry to read that your cars are gone, and how emotional it was for you. I can honestly say, I know how you feel. I would feel the same way if I had to sell either of my cars, especially my Plymouth. Stay strong man.

"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...

Cort...I, too, am saddened to have to see you go through this latest series of struggles in your life. There are many things we can't understand. But, one thing I truly believe is that you weren't put on this earth to simply "be alive"! God has a purpose for you; even though it may take a lifetime to understand just what it is. And the suggestion by that "someone" that you have been given just what you deserve is not only insensitive, but a distortion of His message and all that He represents. Keep the faith and stay strong, my friend. Look forward to happier days ahead!

Sorry I got all preachy and hope I didn't offend anyone...