So after spending the whole day thinking and worrying about you I realized I had better take this opportunity to let you know how I feel, before it’s too late…..
I know we only met a few years back and it was a while before Mom would really let me see you more than a fleeting moment. I’ll never forget that first trip we did into Ontario together. Snowing to beat Jesus, but still such a romantic first foray. I didn’t think I’d ever make that first gig in London but you got me there. You drove through the storm and dark, dark night, never asking where or why. I remember snuggling up with you in -30 in that St Hyacinthe Canadian Tire parking lot. Even in the frigid, frigid night, you kept me warm.
Since then we’ve had many, many, MANY more adventures. More than 250 000 kms we’ve traveled together. I’ve said and done things to you that no one else could know, or want to know for that matter. We’ve seen the beautiful Valley’s and Shores of Nova Scotia. The white sands of PEI. The endless rocks and pines of Northern Ontario. The Flats of Manitoba and Saskatchewan (I know those are you’re favorites) and that spot in Canada where the Rocky Mountains come bursting out of the earth like the back of an evil black cat, all arched up. You took those mountains again and again and again to get us to that mythically named Horsehoe Bay and the boats that leave there for the magical Gogo Island, where water taste like wine and the land is wild and free. You do all this and then turn your fiery paint job right around to get us home again. You’ve done this round trip 4.5 times now.
Well, you gave me quite a scare there last night. I was so worried. I spent all day pacing the floor and self medicating to keep the stress of not knowing how your surgery was going down, down, down. I know you’ve been playing hurt for a while. Don’t think I didn’t notice the slow, seeping, green blood drip, drip, dripping on the ground occasionally after a long haul. Or that way you would kind of groan occasionally… and not in the good way. It was tough when you blew your tire in Osoyoos. At first, of course, all I could think about was myself…”how much? how long? will we make it?”. Now in retrospect, I almost think that was so you could regain your strength for our hellish snowy journey over the crystalized snow covered Kootenay Mountains. With a break in travel in Lethbridge and Nanton gigs you had more time to recuperate but I noticed in Red Deer, your “groaning” got a little louder. We pressed on. When we were turning the corner and you flashed your battery light at me I knew you were going down. Again, how you waited ’til we had arrived at our destination….well, I can only say how grateful I am for your brave desire to get us there safely. Now that we have sent you to, and retrieved you from the doctor, I look forward to our ride East. If medals of honour were bestowed upon vehicles you would surely have many for your years of undying service. With the exception of your endless need for your “go juice” (a problem I have turned a blind eye to for years) you have asked for hardly a thing of me. So my dearest, sweet, sweet ride, I say to you…THANKS. You have delivered so much. You owe me nothing and if you find that spark gone someday…well…don’t go spinning your tires about it….. you have lived your days well and purposeful. Your legend will live on. Ride on baby. Here’s a few pics of our great memories….here’s to a few more!!!
So I’ll close with this….pretty much sums it all up! Bad video but classic Neil….