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Happy
1st JRT anniversary!
It
has been a full year since we ventured to Moline, IL to retrieve “Old
Yeller.”
Barry's notes:
Among my many saved
emails is one sent to Evan dated July 15 and titled “Now this
looks like a real Jeep…” and pointing to an e-bay ad. Ev
wrote back, saying “I’m game if you are.” And so it
began. It has been literality a “great ride” although I
have noticed a few things. The garage at the farm is full of Jeeps;
Four, to be exact, in a three “car” garage. Farm projects
have slowed, with all “free” time being spent tinkering
with “Old Yeller.”
I also have seem
to have picked up a few new addictions. These include daily (sometimes
several times daily) searches of e-bay for Jeep parts and daily (sometimes
several times daily) reading of Jeep forums. I can’t see an ad
for a “parts” Jeep without considering the possibilities.
It really doesn’t seem possible that it has been a year. We have
met all kinds of interesting and wonderful people, learned a lot and
enjoyed every (well almost) minute of the adventure.
Evan's notes:
A
few Surprises
While I knew a project Jeep would be great fun for the grandfathers,
Barry, and I. It is wonderful to see my mom, Paula, having so much fun
with it too.
Some Greatly
Appreciated Help
Both my grandfathers, P.D. and Forrest, have truly been our “Chief
Mechanics,” saving us countless hours with their observations
and their years of experiences, working on the 50-some-odd year old
machines.
Waxing Philosophical
Looking at the old Jeep is a litmus test of sorts; you either see the
potential for what could be again, memories of what was, or a rusty
old bucket of bolts. My dad sees the potential, my mom the memories,
and with a sly smile, my wife sees a bucket of bolts that seems to make
all of us happy.
And in the
End
I can’t believe I forgot how much we all love Jeep rides.
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