IML: Imperial thanks, and some thoughts, and a poem on this day of Gratitude

["Wm. R. Ulman" <twolaneblacktop@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thank you for this day, for being alive, free, healthy, an Imperial
owner (still), the best of friends I value that I have made by merely
owning a specific Marque. Thankful for a high metabolism that will allow
me eat as much as I want, without cooking it all, cleaning it all, or
being compelled to force myself to throw it all up (no offence, just my
dark humor), and most likely given leftovers to take home for the cats
who will undoubtedly, unintentionally, almost take a digit of one of my
fingers as they snatch, and inhale the turkey I feed them by hand.

Three things I want to share with you all.

1.)	While touring the website, I went to the registry, and looked up
statistics, and this may seem silly, or outright trivial to some, but I
was immediately aware of how people rate their own cars.  Not
withstanding the rating score going up to 7, rather than the benchmark
5, and without getting into what the description of 6, or 7 is, I
noticed and was impressed by the majority of folks who rate their car as
a #3 condition car.  A 20 footer, a driver, older restoration, or good
condition original, or a mix of both, like mine.  The reason I mention
it, and what I noticed about #3 cars is the number of them.  Take a
look:  http://www.imperialclub.com/cgi-bin/registry/reg_stats.pl  I
thought, at least, this an ironic Imperial trivia statistic.  440 cid
wise, that is.

2.)	Over the past couple of months I have had many stresses in my
life, none of which anyone else need, or should probably give a rip
about, but to me, significant.  My current condo being torn apart,
inside, and out by a construction company that is on my balcony by 7:00
a.m. each morning.  Pounding, ripping, yelling, and basically seeing
right into my unit.  Bear in mind I have a studio, or efficiency, or
even a Buffet, whichever name a one room unit goes by in your home
region.  Therefore my life is like a fishbowl every morning.  The
building wrapped in a cocoon to keep moisture off the building (this is
Seattle), so no light, or much fresh air for the past 3 months, and at
least 3 more to go.  I will never take getting ready for work (showered
and dressed) for granted again.  Boy in the bubble thing.  It's awful,
but in the end, this building will be ascetically, or otherwise
considered a new building, less current appliances.  I have bet the farm
as well that it's value will shoot up at least 30%, and hopefully, as we
have been told by the architect, construction company, our litigation
lawyer, and my real estate agent, up to 50% more the day it is
completed.  That would make my down payment on my new condo realized,
and final financing assured.  The current refi I just received got the
earnest money hurdle over with, and I can keep my car for now at least,
depending on what I actually can sell my current home for in the end.
That is several stresses rolled into one package.

The ill fated attempt to sell my car taught me a lot about prospective
buyers, myself, my car, and how much I value owning an Imperial,
especially a convertible.  I have had a '62, '63, '60 vert, and
currently my '66 vert.  My '66 vert is not as purely factory original as
my '63 was from the original owner.  The '62 was a parts car I bought
with rose colored glasses on, and was my first one, which in the end
delivered me to the kindly, ancient, quickly fading in his 80's original
owner of the '63 Custom, who wanted the car to be loved and cared for,
so he sold to me for a song, even while some guy with a flatbed was
pissed off in the background who had offered him twice as much as he
sold me the car for.  That is another story about how Imperial owners
really choose who they pass on the torch to when the proper time comes
to sell.  It's a funny story.  I'll share it with anyone who writes me
about it.  From there came the '60 vert.  A basket case, but again rose
colored glasses, and $25K minimum invested over 4 years, without the
benefit of this website, which ultimately resulted in it's sale over a
part I knew not where to get, to finally get me delivered to my current
'66 vert.  This car has really been my favorite in the big picture,
despite missing the ostentatiousness of the '60, the Jetson's-esk dash
of the '62 & '63, along with the pod headlamps.  The '66 is really what
I remember, actually being cognizant of as a small kid, and seeing
driven, and owned by my father's friends, and associates, as well as all
other premium cars from the mid '60's forward.  The blue/white/white
top/wide white tires being my favorite.  In the end I had it sold, just
hours short of the wire transfer, my mind overruling my gut instinct
that this was not what I should be doing, until the engine not being the
original 440 it, transformed my car into a pumpkin to the buyer, and
further concessions were demanded, which I panicked and almost gave
into, until some list members stepped in on my behalf to vouch for the
quality of my car.  I nearly sold it for less than it's lowest worst
case, actual book value, much less than what I at least, value it at,
which would have made me regret it the moment I signed off on the title.
déjà vu of my '70 Olds 4-4-2 Convertible when I was 23. 

My current condo, new condo, financial standing to qualify, my lower
than average (work for a non-profit) income, and being beaten up about
my car by the last person who in the end was both demanding, and begging
for my car, at a discount, after twice saying it was over, he had found
another car, but each time, came back trying to snatch my Doris using my
financial insecurity, exchange rate, shipping as weapons.  Through sound
advise, and Imperial personal testimonials, I knew I had a rare gem,
decided to take a huge leap of faith that in the end I can really have
it all, a better home I should not be able to afford, and my Imperial
that it took me 11 years of learning, sharing, sacrifice, and at one
long stretch of time, car payments on a 37 year old car, to get where I
am today.  Rare Imperial convertible, paid for, west coast rust free,
never wrecked, well running, dependable, unique, strong #3 desirable
car.

Today, I am grateful for many things, the above is just a portion I
wanted to share with my fellow Imperialists.  Hopefully you don't
consider it TMI.

3.)  A poem I wrote when I was 12 about my family's cars.  Copy-righted
1973, W.R. Ulman:

Geoffrey has a heavy Chevy,
He likes to drive by the levy,
It drinks enough gas,
When it tries to pass,
A Chevy van that's twice as heavy.

Granny has a Cutlass, Ha, Ha,
To her I always say "Bah".
It may have tinted glass, 
But it eats lots of gas,
So to her I always say, "Ha!"

Donny has a great Bonneville,
It's so sick that it needs a big pill,
As he drives down the road,
It guzzles a load,
Because it really is ill.

Mom had a Dodge, a Colt,
Sometimes it drops a big bolt, 
It rattles, and scattles, 
But she always battles,
To drive it without a big jolt.

But mine is the best of them all,
It eats no gas, water, or oil,
The power is mine, 
It drives very fine,
For a bike, which sometimes I fall.
__________________

May you all count your blessings, discount your troubles, and have a
very happy Thanksgiving!

Bill Ulman
Seattle, WA
'66 Crown Convertible Coupe named Doris Day, with plates that read:
FIT4AQN




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