Friends,
This is a post I have been regretting sending for some time. Now that "midlife" has turned to "senior," I decided to move to a car than is a little roomier with some additional creature comforts. I bought a used Mercedes SL550 as a replacement today. I'll be putting my GXP up for sale on the forum and elsewhere very soon. It's been 129,000 miles of fun (and only 52,000 miles of fun on my replacement engine.)
It all started in early 2006 for me. I took one look at this new car and fell in love at first sight. What followed was a daily obsession with watching videos and looking at the forum. Then Pontiac announced the GXP and I suffered an agonizing wait for that until I could get my hands on one. It was life changing.
Meeting so many of you in person was a real unexpected pleasure. I went to several annual and regional meets, three pilgrimages to the factory, and several weekends hosted by Joe, who created this forum, to work on modifications to our cars. You are fun loving, easy going, non-pretentious, great people who are passionate about our cars.
So while I'm excited about the SL550, it is a sad day for me because it means saying goodbye to my GXP, this forum, and the many friends I have made among you. While my car in now replaced, you are irreplaceable.
And so many of you give of yourself so freely to organize and volunteer at the events, for some MANY hours. I am overwhelmed in gratitude. I'm tempted to name names, but I won't because I know I'll forget someone. Well, I have to mention Joe, his wife and his son. Great and generous are you! For the rest of you, you know who you are. If you don't remember me by the name Midlife, I was "the cocktail guy." Now you remember. You are the best. Thank you for creating so many happy memories for me.
I'd love to stay in touch. Send me a PM if you'd like and I'll provide contact information.
I'd close by saying the Irish Blessing: "May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. ..." except that that the wind is always IN FRONT of you in these great cars. So, I'll just say drive safe, be well, and carry on.
Cheers,
Midlife
