Reflection and appreciation

I have just returned from one of the first local collector car events of the year in the Chicago area. Can spring in the Midwest be far behind? I, for one, would like to think it's coming soon. Hopefully, by the time you actually read this, it will finally have arrived here.

We have had several uncharacteristically warm and sunny days here over the past few months, but the snow just does not seem to want to go away. The area had a snowfall of almost 12 inches less than 10 days ago. Oh well, as Valerie reminds me from time to time, it was my idea to live here.

As to the event I attended, it was the local Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac and Cadillac Swap Meet. It is an annual event and serves as a good opportunity to jump start one's thinking about what needs to be done to get our cars ready for the season. I try to attend each year.

From my personal observations, I'm not the only one who thinks the economy is not in really good shape. There were substantially fewer attendees, as well as fewer vendors than there had been the last few years. I don't recall seeing more than two cars for sale in the small car corral at any one time-they do have a tendency to come and go and only two for sale in the parking lot. This is a bit unusual, as the swap is usually packed and there have been as many as 20 cars in the corral in the past.

Hopefully, this isn't the "canary in the mine" for the hobby. However, on a positive note, it was, as usual, a time to reacquaint with other members of the collector car community I had not seen since the fall and to pick up a few things I couldn't live without.

While at the meet, I have to say I was gratified to hear from fellow Club members that more people besides the editor and people related to me read this column. I'll continue to try to keep it something that you will be interested in reading. I also got several suggestions on how to deal with the problems I have been having with "Ms. Ellie." As a result, there may be a few new installments on that saga, as I'm not ready to give up on her yet.

On the Club management front, I'd like to announce that Gary Fisher of Dublin, Ohio, and member of the Central Ohio Region, has been tapped to assume the duties of Awards Committee chairperson, a position previously held by Bill Edmunds. Thank you for your service, Bill; it is very sincerely appreciated. In light of this appointment, please prospectively submit all nominations for National awards to Gary.

Happy Motoring!

-Glenn