The title says it all!!! Vets, cars and.... -1- bike! GBG OK, rain happened and it didn't look too bad from my place, but as I crank a bicycle, I know the good weather sites...
I knew what was ahead, hey, put on the gear and behind all that plastic, not too bad.... just don't stop! Not bad on the way to Menlo Park VA, got some rain there, and a bunch more on the way back, but dressed for it and didn't get a drop on ME! GBG Cleaning Ruby for the Vets Parade on 11/11 was a bit tougher... sigh.
This is year 2 of the event, Went last year and had a fantastic time visiting with some folks that had a bit of wrinkle in there lives, and some day, it could be me, I'm a VA member too. As the saying goes, "But for the Grace of God... there go I".
Last year: http://alrblogseries.blogspot.com/2009/11/alr-pgr-menlo-park-va-run.html
The assistants were fabulous again this year, they make you feel so welcome it's just fun to be there, and it really is! Once you get to visiting with the Vets, well it's just natural conversation. And both they and I appreciated it!
I got to drive inside a building again!!! This twice in 2 years!!! They laid out the "carpet" for me! GBG
So I got to the staging place and one of last years assistants came over and said "I got this text from Audie, he won't be here!"! Well in my best of John Wayne voices, I said !)$*!#_$^&*T!#$)!#$% GBG Audie called me and we chatted.
Audie and Cheryl had gotten the mizzeries and had to stay home, good on 'um for having the sense, speaking of sense... that's why I was there! GBG Just kidding!
So of the 4 scoots that were supposed to be there, you see above those that showed up! I was a bit apprehensive about going in all by my lonesome, but I've learned from my PGR riding... one of us makes a difference, NEVER forget that!! I've ridden alone before and I'll do it any time!
And it did! I had a great time visiting! As Sweet Ruby was staged in the building, folks could come out a few at a time and we could chat, ask / answer questions, and they were entertained and loved it!!! They were actually amazed to come thru the doors and see a scoot, as gorgeous as Ruby, sitting in the hallway! Very amazed! Maybe I found some new riders for us!
The amazing part is... I spent over an hour there, and it was a blink of an eye, the guard that stayed with me - required - was an Iraq vet, and he was a great part of the visit and for the guests. Many good conversations. It was an honor to be there, we say it often and it's always meant.
The staff brought out towels to dry Ruby off so the folks could sit on 'er and we could get some pics. I'll update this blog when I get some pics from the VA, I can't take pics of folks for privacy reasons, and glad to respect them! Asking for the best for their future!
After our visit in the lock down... (Ya see that description always worries me, I'm afraid they won't let me out! GBG) I went over to the main meeting area for lunch, and it was great, well I got invited to park under the tent as it was coming down pretty good. Sounded good to me!
The Boy Scout Honor Guard was getting ready to set the colors.
Just shooting around the meeting area....
The table in the back was filled with gifts for the Vets. While we are there we are given tickets to pass out. It's a way for the Vets to win gifts and more important, a chance for us to talk and interact with them.
If you can imaging being in a place, and not having outside visitors, after a while you'd like to see some folks too. That's why I go! God Bless 'um and asking the best for their future!
Hy Libby, the organizer, and I sat with a vet and he builds cars. He had some pics of 'um, and WOW did he have a bunch of great ol' muscle cars!!! Gorgeous!
Please, for you and our Vets, think about this ride next year. Come in a cage if needed, the Vets love visiting with you! And you can thank them for their service!
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