Guilt

[Ryan]

The ominous truth of the matter is that the last 45 days or so have been the worst of my life. I've tried to write that sentence differently for over an hour now. I've tried to polish it into some kind of less dramatic or more smoothly ingested state...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

[Special Ed]

Baby steps and silver linings ....

[need louvers ?]

Dude, you just hit on one of my secret weapons in life. When it's all shitty, go hammer the Plym for a bit. It always kinda acts like my schnauzer when we play hard, where it's tired but way happy. Always makes me feel better too, no matter what. Best way ever to shrug off a crap life's passage...

[eddie1]

It's good to have you back.

[Older'n dirt]

Whatever works man. God Bless you Ryan.

[37hotrod]

One day at a time. You WILL get through this. Keep repeating that until you believe it.

Now...go break something already!

[porknbeaner]

Ryan,

To a lot of us you are family. Perhaps not all of us fall into the family I would like to have category, but family none the less.

If there was a way that I could fix what ails you I would. But alas I cannot, life is a bitch, and that is sugar coated if you catch my drift.

You do whatever it is to make yourself better. Don't give us a second thought, we are family. When you are up we are here and when you are not we are still here.

[Waddayacare]

The "GO" pedal always seems to have a way of being therapeutic.

[Zapato]

Something learned in a little Asian hell hole back in '72. Any day no one was trying to kill me was a good day, constantly remind myself of that single fact. No idea how life is dumping on you right now rest assured it will get better much as this mornings ride started to show you already.

[Flowmeister]

Hang in there brother.
A good Hot Rod is like a good friend,
you can lean on them as hard as you need to, and they won't falter,
holding you up where you need to be.

It is going to be alright.

[need louvers ?]

Originally Posted by porknbeaner

Ryan,

To a lot of us you are family. Perhaps not all of us fall into the family I would like to have category, but family none the less.

If there was a way that I could fix what ails you I would. But alas I cannot, life is a bitch, and that is sugar coated if you catch my drift.

You do whatever it is to make yourself better. Don't give us a second thought, we are family. When you are up we are here and when you are not we are still here.

Very well said 'beaner!

[gilby's garage]

at last the release, like the pressure valve just let loose. that is a feeling i yern for, my pressure has been trying to release for some time now, my coupe project is in it's 14th month and i'm starting to go crazy, i may have to dust off my aluminum nose dodge max wedge and pull off a couple speed runs just to blow off my steam,

Ryan, hang in there, it can only get better! right?

[brett4christ]

PM'ed! (for what it's worth.....)

[117harv]

I got a little misty reading that. The line about being therapeutic is spot on, be it a hot rod or bike. No matter how bad things in life get, they always seem to get better again and any day above ground is better than one below...thanks for everything Ryan.

[BLAKE]

Nailed it. For different reasons, I've been there... I bet we all have. Things suck. Things get slightly better over a period of time. Meloncholia transitions to guilt-fueled enthusiasm. That enthusiasm drives a zealous reengagement with the things that bring joy.

Welcome back.

[Big A]

Yep, sometimes you just need to give yourself a good kick in the pants and a good blast to clear the cobwebs.

I haven't driven my car on over 3 years. Getting a little closer.

[tommy]

I hope the skies clear up for you. It is amazing that these old things can stand up to abuse. I'm glad that yours did. (it was built right!) One thing for sure is that you have a pretty big fan club rooting for you. When the sky gets dark, just think about your fan club.

[Smokey2]

Good for YOU Ryan,

What You did is the same as Running down a long hill, as fast as You can, and
screming at the top of Your Lungs !
Sometimes You just have to let IT out............
Fortinate that you have something that allowed You to do that, without the runningf
part.
God Bless, and glad Your back !

[Reds 29]

I know the feeling, I had a heart attack 9 months ago. I was pissed off, frustrated, mad at the world, upset with my body and everyone around me. It was early spring and I hadn't had my Model A coupe out yet. It took a few days to get it out and drive it, but when I did, I did what you did. I smoked the tires down the road, drove like a mad man for about 20 miles. I turned around to come back home and started thinking "damn I'm still alive, I have my car, and my family, I guess I'm going to be ok." Sometimes our cars are the best medicine. The next day a couple of my car buddies came over and that made me feel even better. We need to all stick together through tough times. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. We have never met, but we are all family.
Red

[Harms Way]

There are a ton of hills and valleys in everybody's life. On the hill tops you can see everything so clearly and all the wonderful things we have to be grateful for. But it's in the valleys that the fog settles,.... And it's hard to see all the blessings, let alone the next step,... or what direction to go. It's at these times we need to remember the awesome view from the mountain top and rest asured, we will see it again...

I don't know what is going on in your life brother,.... But know there is a very big family (that you created) all over the world that hurts with you, and will be giving you good thought, vibes and prayers as you deal with it..... ( you know what I'll be doing).

As far as the therapy goes,..... I spent many times full throttling it, trying to outrun the ghosts of my past,..... I would feel more normal and better as I pulled back into my driveway..... and always grateful that I had a release like that...

Ryan,... you mean more to this community/family than you could possibly imagine.... If you ever need anything,... I am sure there would be a ton of brothers and sisters that would stand in line to help..... Count me in.

God bless you my friend... tho we don't know what your dealing with.... please know, your aren't going through it alone.