If the shear weight or volume of ones material possessions determines wealth... I'm a rich man. I've thrown out or given away literally thousands of pounds of stuff that I've kept throughout the years and I still have a ton of stuff. I know I'm a pack rat but there are just some things you can't throw out. I think every 15 years or so a guy needs to go through all his stuff - if not to clear out the clutter, to take an inventory. I've found things that I've been trying to locate for years. Of course they'll be lost again after the move.

Some of the "important" things I've kept have no meaning to anyone else and no monetary value what so ever. For example, I have the rock my oldest daughter lodged in her nose when she was 2 years old. I had to use needle nose pliers to remove it. Fortunately Mollie, now age 17, doesn't appear to have any physical or psychological scars from the ordeal but it brings back memories for me and puts a smile on my face. I even have the first screwdriver and pliers I ever owned (age 6?). - The tools that started it all!

I know that some day when I'm dead and gone they'll be cleaning out my stuff (for weeks ;) wondering why I kept it all, and they'll run across the little pill bottle with "nose rock" written on it and a rock inside. I can hear them now saying "What the hell?" as they toss it out. It won't matter though. The only person that it's of any value to will be gone, so until then - I'm keeping it.

It would be interesting to see what my daughters keep of mine after I'm gone. Things I take for granted may be the things that bring back good memories for them. My garage and basement full of "junk" will probably be consolidated down to 3 small boxes marked "Dad's stuff" - one for each child, and end up in an attic, only to be viewed each time they move - with a smile.

Project33 has been relocated for a few weeks while we move. Getting it on the trailer without scraping the headers and transmission pan proved to be a tight squeeze as you can see in this picture.

Lucky us! We get to spend 2 weeks in a motel between the closing date for our current house and the new one. I just hope the anticipation of the move and the excitement of being able to set up a new shop in a new garage doesn't make our time in the motel seem like an eternity.

Who knows... maybe I'll write some of those Articles I've been meaning to share with you. While we're there you're all invited to the motel for a swim and some serious bench racing! ;)

Until next time -

Keep the shiny side up!

Scooter