I have lurked on the fringe of this list for eighteen months or so,=
surfacing from time to time to ask a pertinent question or two only then to=
slide back to the fuzzy edge of participation. As a result of my=
inconsistent personal involvement, only rarely have I felt the sense of=
community enjoyed by the long time members . The first time I had that=
sense of being connected by common experience to the larger group was as a=
result of the responses to my first post, very much a positive impression=
of the passion that every member of the list possessed. The second time=
followed my being assigned to the digest due to AOL's mail problems (and=
MJB's workload). That time I felt strangely separated from the group, cut=
off in a weird way, which was uncomfortable and alien. =20
What has happened over the last few weeks, first with Dick Criswell and now=
with Ray Gibbons has left me with a very real feeling that I have somehow=
lost something very valuable. These deaths have again brought that=
sensation of separation, this time with two almost anonomous individuals,=
known only through this electronic media, who shared in a very intimate way=
my enthusiasm for the hobby in which we all participate. Although I wanted=
to, expressing my sorrow at the loss of both of these gentlemen seemed to=
me, at the time, to be similar to stepping from the outside into a tight=
group of friends engaged in private conversation. I didn't want to be=
viewed as an interloper. These men were after all only aquaintences I had=
come to know through there writing. Neither I would have known on sight. I=
have chosen to comment now only because of the current theme regarding the=
need to attract new and younger blood to the hobby.
Perhaps the best memorial to Dick and Ray is for us to engage the young=
people in our lives in conversation about and participation with LBC's. All=
of us need to encourage the youth with which we are involved, to explain=
what it is about these cars that draws us like moths to the flame, that=
which bind us together, to let them experience first hand the events, good=
and bad that define our lives with our LBC's. =20
Thanks to one sad and tired Midget and David Deutsch who sold it to us, my=
daughter has joined an admittedly small cadre of young LBC owners. She is=
younger than Kai and it will be three years before she is ready to drive,=
maybe longer before the car is ready to be driven. It is hers, she works on=
it alone and she drags Dad off the couch to help her with it.
Enthusiasm for Dick and Ray's hobby has to be cultivated, it is not a weed,=
and we are the caretakers. A few months ago I wrote an article for my=
club's newsletter about my children and the growth of their carefully=
nurtured interest in British cars. Combining carefullycontrolled, but=
active participation in the rebirth of my MGBGT with attendance at selected=
events, their tiny spark of interest in whatever Dad is doing out there in=
the garage has been carefully fanned over many months, even years in a=
silent and subliminal way. They both now care about these cars. One of my=
children owns one, the other wants one.=20
This, in my opinion, is the best way to honor the memory of our departed=
friends.=20
Sorry for the length, but I had to say it all. Comments are welcome.
Dave Bernier
74 MGBGT (it's mine)
66 Midget (it's hers, my daughter that is)
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