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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Erin Milnes
[mailto:erin.milnes@comcast.net] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, August 18, 2009
1:31 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Chuck Guest (cguest@sonic.net)<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Go Van Gone</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Greetings Go Van friends, fans, and
acquaintances,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.<br>
<br>
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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><br>
See pictures at <a
href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/erinmilnes/sets/72157622072418564/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/erinmilnes/sets/72157622072418564/</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Erin & Chuck<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>P.S. </span></font><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>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?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>----------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
9.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>*Friends of Go Van<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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