I’ve been waiting to write this note as the substitute Roving Reporter about our drive on Saturday, but my heavy heart after going to Reg Dunbar’s service on Friday has had me searching for what to say. I don’t know what else to say except that it sure does hurt to lose people you’re friends with and care about and share a common passion with our little British cars. I’m afraid our suffering is not over, as Bob Gullic is hanging on to a thread after three weeks in the hospital with the virus. Also, I talked to Jim Smith this morning after he missed the Saturday drive, and he and his wife Honie both have Covid, although, thankfully, at this point it sounds like they both have “light” cases.
So, yes, we soldiered on, social distanced, and had our drive on Saturday morning. I think Reg would have wanted us to. One of his daughters told me that they were burying him with his BMCNO name tag, she said our club was one of the highlights of his life. Barbara wasn’t there, she’s still fighting her battle with Covid. Maxine told Bob we were out driving again on Saturday, and he was happy for us, wished he could be with us again. Jim would have been there if he was well.
It was another beautiful day. Six cars and nine people participated. I was asking why there weren’t more cars/people, and Betsy Harper said probably because the LSU game was on at 11. I just figured they’d be playing in the afternoon or evening, so missed that one. We had two E-Types, an MGA, B, and C, and a TR3. Here’s a link to a couple before pictures and a couple after pictures. Mary Lynne and I led, followed by Hank & Betsy Harper in their MGC, Robb in his MGB, new member Will Jones in his TR3, Milton and Randy in Milton’s E-Type, and Marc Zebouni in his MGA. The drive was close to a repeat of our April drive, starting out from Alex Box Stadium at LSU and hopping on River Road just south of Baton Rouge. This time we went all the way through St Gabriel, around a few plants, and then back to Bluff Road via LA3115 and LA74. Bluff Road ends at LA427, the Perkins Rd extension, which we took up to the Home Depot parking lot for a little show and tell session (masks on, social distanced).
So a nice drive together, but hard not to think of the people we’re losing to the virus. Please keep praying for those suffering and dying from this or any illness and their families and friends.
We still have very much to be thankful for on Thursday. Wishing you a Thankful Thanksgiving.
Rick H
Substitute Roving Reporter