The Power of One Small Part

A while ago, I reconnected with an old friend.   We had met for dinner and he had mentioned that he couldn’t email at the time because his PC had broken.   As a hobby, I like to fix old, broken PC’s and give them new life.  I told him that he could stop by my house and pick out a new PC if he would like to.  He did.  A few weeks later, we met for dinner again, and he presented me with a gift; a gift that instantly became one of my most prized possessions.

Let me give you a little back-story.  Those of you who know me, know that I am sort of a “car guy”.  I have loved them since I can remember and have owned A LOT of them.   Of all of the cars I’ve owned, there are two that I miss. 

The first is the 1951 Ford that I drove in high school.   I think just because it was my first.  Don’t get me wrong, it was super cool, but when I see other cars like it today, I don’t wish I had one.  I only liked mine. 

However, the second one has been my obsession since 3^rd grade : the Porsche 911.

Mine was a 1971 Porsche 911 Targa, VIN 91111113231.  Beautiful.  Blue (some said purple). Nimble, fast, sexy.  I would drive it every chance I got.  To work, to school,  it didn’t matter.  My cousin Jerry and I took it on a 3000 mile vacation one summer.  It was a dream car. 

One day, I sold it. Who says you can’t put a price on dreams?  Apparently, you could have bought my dreams for about $12,500.

And I’ve been regretting it ever since. 

When I bought the car, one of the first things I did was replace the hood badge.  It was worn.  Part of the enamel was missing.  The colors weren’t bright and it wasn’t very shiny, almost all the plating was gone.   I gave it to my friend Steve Gable.  He collected odds-and-ends.  I remember one night when he ran across the street to retrieve a 1950’s-era toaster someone left for trash.  He put a new cord on it, cleaned it up and used it.  I recall ribbing him about using an old toaster instead of getting a new one.  He said it wasn't that he COULDN'T get a new toaster, but why should he when this one is perfectly good and is much cooler looking and of a better quality than anything he can buy today.  It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s still using it to this day.   This was 1992.  

Jump ahead to today…while cleaning some drawers a few months ago, Steve stumbled across the hood badge.   He knew how much I loved my Porsche, so he gave it back to me!  It sits on my PC at work, and brings a smile to my face, everyday.

I, too, have become a collector or odds-and-ends.  I think I come by it genetically.  My father was a collector and his mother was, too.  I figure, “I’d better save this.  I’m sure I can use it for something, someday.”  Sometimes I do.  Most times, I don’t.   My basement, garage and workshop are filled with "somedays".  Too many.  Someday needs to be today.

So, I began purging.  Clearing out what I don’t use and finding it a new home.   PC’s were flying out of the basement.  I got rid of a couple of extra lawn mowers, 3 TV’s, a couch, 2 cabinets…all sorts of stuff.  Free to a good home!   

I also like Craigslist, which doesn't help. 

A few weeks back, I traded a guy on Craigslist a box of old computer parts and a 50 pound 17” CRT monitor for a really cool 1989 Honda Elite scooter (Vicky doesn’t know about this…shhhhh!).  

So I got the idea, I’m going to turn my odd-and-ends into a Porsche.   I didn’t need the PC parts, I certainly don’t need the scooter.   Remember the story of the guy who traded the red paperclip for a house?  I’m going to trade my odds-and-ends for a  911 (or a 356!) and when I get it, my old, worn, faded non-shiny badge is going on it!

So, here’s the deal.  If you want the scooter or a PC (I always have an extra PC), I will entertain your offer, but trades only.  I want to turn these items into a 911.