My princess is gone

Thank you, Wally, that is an awesome read.  My wife read it, too.  We both really enjoyed getting to know Jodi a little bit.

Matthew

In reply to Hasbro (Forum Supporter) :

We loved that goofy little car, I still smile when I see one. 

In reply to Stampie (FS) :

We were sailing along when she started yelling about I giant peach, I made a u turn on the median to see what the hell she was talking about then find an exit to go get a picture.  It was a scenario that we would repeat often over the next 20 plus years. 

In reply to matthewmcl (Forum Supporter) :

She often would read along on here and got to know many of you as well. 

Wally, your story about road tripping is touching.

I enjoyed your story of Jodi learning to adventure. Keep them coming. 

Love it man. Can't wait to hear another.

I will now regard Jeff Gordon as nice man with the ice cream.

What great stories - thanks for sharing!  And thanks for the link to Camp Cockier Rescue.

Somewhere I have film pics of my Neon ACR in front of the Gaffney Peach from when I bought it via GRM Classifieds in 1999 or so.

I live about 15 mikes west of the peach.  We pass it every time we take one grandson to visit his dad.  The boys giggle when we pass it (it looks like a butt from one angle) and they know we are almost home on the trip back.  

late to the topice but my condolences, i actually did meet Jodi once and she was definitely devoted to you

Wally, i know it's going to be a tough one, but i wish you a happy birthday nonetheless. i love you man.

We drove thru the bay bridge tunnel at your - Jodi's - recommendation!

It's Wally's birthday?  Happy birthday Wally but I know as AC said it's gotta be tough.

In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :

What year escort was it?

JG Pasterjak said:

I'm sure words anf thoughts all seem like a lot of noise at the moment, and you're very anxious to find some signal among all this chaos. Just know that there's a great group of folks here that have your back. We love you man. Whatever help you need making sense of this, we'll find a way to make it happen.

what he said

The Gaffney peach! Back when I was racing, it meant we were half-way to Charlotte. Or half-way home, on the way back. Sure sounds like once Jodi got the chance to travel, she got the hang of it pretty quickly! 

Thinking of ya, Wally. Take care of yourself, OK?

Thank You everyone. I forgot I was scheduled for vacation this week.  I've been down at my moms since yesterday.  They had a nice party for my birthday where my nieces and nephew have been doing a good job keeping me busy. 

In reply to mikeatrpi :

The bridge tunnel never gets old.  We tried to get down to our friend's place every year and I'd have to make sure she was awake, and stop at the gift shop.  
 

In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :

It was a teal 95 sedan.  Her first new car, and it served us well for almost 300,000 miles before a poorly timed nap caused me to total it on the way home one night. 

In reply to Wally (Forum Supporter) :

You've got a seat to wheel a 93 GT at the Challenge or anytime that you come through Maryland. If you want to ride down to the Challenge running down 13 through the tunnel can be done as well! If fly and arrive makes more sense, I understand and hope to see you in October.

In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :

Thank You 

I ate lunch in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel in 1968.

It fascinated 8 year old me.

In reply to Streetwiseguy :

It still fascinated fortysomething us. The last time we went we sat out on the pier watching the ships go by while we had lunch. I tried to plan our drive down so we'd hit there at about 12-12:30 and get some time to spend there. 

I've crossed the bridge/tunnel many times and stopped on the piers and at the shop, but never ate at the restaurant while it was open. There is a place north of the bridge, in Cape Charles, called Stingray's that's always been my go to. It's almost like a speakeasy of a restaurant as you walk through an unmarked door on the back wall of a convienance store at a gas station, then there's a decently long hallway, where at the back is Stingrays, a seafood and soulfood restaurant. It's proper stuff, I've been known to head down for a meal on a weekend when things aren't too crazy, and it's about 4 hours away. 

In reply to captdownshift (Forum Supporter) :

Did the gas station look like an Exxon but named something like Lloyd's?  If so I made her eat there once.  Something about the place we stopped at she thought was creepy so we never stopped again.