[TR] "Retiring from the TR hobby"

[Loumetelko at aol.com]

It was truly sad to read of the passing of John.   He wrote the  following 
in October of 2009 and since the wording was so moving, I  saved and have 
read it often.  In John's honor please read slowly and enjoy  the passion he 
had for our beloved Triumphs.
 
Lou Metelko
Auburn, Indiana
 
 
 
In a message dated 10/12/2009 12:32:34 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
jrherrera90 at hotmail.com writes:





I really don't want to retire from the TR  hobby.



I have a chronic illness and am unable to work. I can't  work on the TR3 
much
anymore; not even clean it. I rarely have the energy  to drive it.



My only income is a meager Social Security  Disability payment. I am up to 
here
in credit card debt. I could sell the  car to pay off the debt, but 
instead, I
charge more  parts.



Why, then, don't I sell the TR3 and retire from the  hobby?



I could say that I love the car so much that I can't  bring myself to live
without it. Or that the camaraderie of the TR  community keeps me going. Or
even that driving the car, however rarely,  gives me pleasure and the 
desire to
live.



But it's none of  these. No, it's because I can't stand to become one of 
those
guys who spend  their empty days hanging about gas stations, quickie marts,
restaurants,  etc.



They wait and wait for a TR3 to drive  up.



Broken men.



Forgotten  men.



Men with hollow cheeks and glazed-over eyes with a  far-away look in them.



"I used to have one of these", they say  to you in a husky voice as they 
try to
hold back the  emotion.



I don't want to become like that, so I'll try to keep  my car a little 
longer.



John  H.