Every blue moon or so you get the opportunity to figure out what your meaning of life is!
I was lucky enough to get that chance on March 3rd 2015. More than a year ago one of our great clients bought a paint-to-sample GT3 RS 4.0 from us but he had “no room at the inn” for it. So we volunteered to keep it safe and sound in our San Juan Island shop in Washington state.
I rarely drive clients’ cars—or our cars, for that matter—as I’m afraid I’ll tear one up. The owner called and asked if I could get this car shipped to him, which was no problem from Seattle but I had to get the car down there first. His reply was “Drive it and have fun.”
I pulled the car out the night before, took a lap around the island to be sure it checked out and I made my plans to leave on the 5:45 am ferry. I awoke to pitch darkness, walked into our kids room and peeked at them before giving them a kiss on top of their foreheads to remind me why I’m here and why I should not screw it up!
I walked to the driveway on a brisk 40-degree morning, put the key in the ignition and the beast came to life. As I drove to town in the darkness very little light from the sun peeked over the horizon. I pulled in my favorite coffee drive-through but they didn’t open until 6:00. Island living has its advantages as the proprietor Mark was getting ready to open and he knows me well. After asking why I was up so early and staring at the 4.0, he passed a large Americano through the window and I was on my way.
Tranquility turns to Excitement
The early morning ferry was quiet and I was relaxed with the growing anticipation of my drive ahead. The sun was coming up over Mount Baker and another incredible day in the Pacific Northwest soon was to be upon me. As the ferry docked the growl of the 4.0 brought my excitement to a new level. The Skagit Valley was ahead of me. I pulled off the ferry and moved out of town, and the roads opened up nicely to the farmlands ahead. Cedar trees lining the roads started flashing by, and rotaries suddenly turned into chicanes. It was on! The naturally aspirated 4.0-liter is a monster and the noise was amazing. As the tires warmed up, the roads became familiar and the fun began. Twenty minutes had passed and I had passed everything in the valley. I was way ahead of schedule.
The Ferris Bueller Moment
I pulled over to watch the sun come up and reflect on the meaning of life.
To me, the meaning of life all goes back to a quote from Ferris Bueller: “If you had access to a car like this would you take it back right away? Neither would I!”
Epilogue
Ashley, Id like to apologize; I’m sorry. I know we have small children and what I did may have been unsafe. But in my defense, you know me.
