Chapter 4 (page 44)

As I look at everything that has transpired to bring us to this point having been a witness to the entire journey, I must stop myself sometimes to realize the enormity of exactly what he did. My two biggest take-aways are his 2 main traits, his persistence and his patience… persistence and patience. These are 2 words not normally used together, but as I have looked this over from top to bottom, that is the only way to describe it - Persistent Patience.

From his very humble start in 1989, after making the entry in his book, Dad’s journey would cover the better part of 3 decades, 2 college graduations, a devastating flood in his house, grown kids moving back home, the devastating loss of a career job because of a criminal in his company, starting his own business, 2 weddings, 5 grandchildren, not to mention the normal everyday crap that bogs all of us down in the standard format that life seems to deliver. Yup, he overcame all of that, put food on the table, provided for his family and still found a way to reach his goal. Only someone that possesses extreme persistence could pull this off, yet at the same time, would need to exercise insane amounts of patience to, at the very least, not lose sight of the goal let alone actually achieve it. Anything less and the car is still sitting in the back of the garage slipping further and further into oblivion, but that my friends… didn't happen - he got it done.

As I close it’s safe to say that things have changed. Dad and I found a new way to spend our time on Saturdays & Sundays. Out for a morning drive under a blue sky or up to Coffee & Cars at the SteelStacks in Bethlehem and then out to breakfast, at our favorite haunt (when my schedule allows). Sure there is work that needs to be done on the car from time to time, but this is fairly simple compared to everything that has been done so far.

Many, many people know the car simply from its rarity and of course the Ferrari Fly Yellow color that makes its presence known throughout the local area. I live about 15 minutes from my parents and when the weather is good, Dad is never far from the smallest excuse to “bring something over to my house for Mom.” You know like: “I brought you some napkins and toothpicks, Mom thought you might be running low.” So the cover comes off and into the sunlight he goes headed for my house with his “whatever excuse he could find to drive over and drop something off!” I can typically hear him roaring up to my street, as there is only one car around that makes that distinctive sound. Then the yellow Porsche makes the right onto my street and into my driveway. As always, Army hat and sunglasses on and a typical Big-Ass Smile on his face. Wherever he goes the car draws attention, the bank, the store, the girls soccer game and god forbid anyone ask him about the car, because he’d be happy to tell you all about for, well “How much time do you have?”