SOCIAL: FW: Go Van Gone

[Erin Milnes]

I know most of you never knew the Go Van (and don't even know me), but I
thought some of you might appreciate the story of Chuck's and my recent
transition.

 

  _____  

From: Erin Milnes [mailto:erin.milnes at comcast.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 1:31 AM
To: Chuck Guest (cguest at sonic.net)
Subject: Go Van Gone

 

Greetings Go Van friends, fans, and acquaintances,

 

We are sad but proud to report that our 1986 Dodge Ram van gave the last
full measure of its devotion last Monday so that we could transport our
young son and ourselves more safely. Yes, we traded the van in as part of
Cash for Clunkers and bought a brand spankin new VW Jetta wagon (airbags and
all). We felt somewhat guilty that the Go Van's resolute dedication to us
was worth less than $4,500, and so set about creating the proper send-off.

To wit, on Sunday a number of FOGV* helped us decorate it with colorful
messages to the universe and to automotive loves past and with island scenes
befitting its redubbing as Van Tiki -- "The journey is the reward." (And Van
Tiki has now set out on its final voyage back to molten metal, glass and
rubber.) We all then made a Tiki Bar run to Tiki Tom's and then Forbidden
Island.

 

The Go Van was with us through three Burning Men, two weddings, one music
camp, and lots of hauling of furniture/building materials/art
'objets'/concrete detritus/you-name-it. It was the perfect camping van-no
seats in the back just a custom plywood bench and shelves. Letting go of it
was kinda tough. I mean the Jetta drives great and all, but it is such a
middle-class mom car without much personality. We know we did the right
thing-Duncan's safety has to be our foremost consideration-but we will
certainly miss our big beautiful crack van.

 

When we turned it in at the VW dealer in Hayward all the salesmen came out
to see. One even took pictures. Another said he wished he could have the van
for himself. A 60-something salesman said he loved the colors while he
climbed into the back to look around. I'm glad GV was appreciated; it
lessened the sting a bit as we drove away. Only looked back once. 


See pictures at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erinmilnes/sets/72157622072418564/



Cheers,
Erin & Chuck

 

 

P.S. Don't worry, we took the steer horns off before we left the dealership.
They are sitting on Chuck's desk awaiting a new home-Go Van II in 2015?

 

----------------------------

*Friends of Go Van

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.deeptrouble.com/pipermail/social-deeptrouble.com/attachments/20090818/a3104e0c/attachment-0002.htm>