Ah, Kenosha....I loved you , why'd it end so soon?

[Gremlingts@xxxx]

 Well, the trip laundry is probably stinking, the car needs to be 
unpacked, my bank account is broke, but OMG, was it worth it!!!!!! LOL !! I 
just got back Monday morning after a straight 20-hour drive from the AMC 
homeland to Virginia, around 800 miles ( took a "shortcut" from the 1200 mile 
trip up ), only had to deal with Chicago traffic once. And ONCE was enough! 
Yuck! We took I-65 south to Indianapolis after we got out of THAT mess! 
Anyway, I want to thank all you Gremlin guys out there ( and girls, too ) 
who I got a chance to meet in person. It was just stupendous how everyone I 
met was so nice and friendly, wish I'd had another couple of days to get to 
know you people better ( although I think Gary " The Mix " crammed in all his 
stories in 2 hours, LOL! My ears still hurt... >:) ). I didn't even make it 
around the bend past the flea market to the north end, I probably missed 
quite a few cars ( I missed the concept Gremlin car of Brian Moyers, dammit! 
). I saw a couple 2 litre Gremlins heading out after the show, I got no pics 
of them. Wanted to see one of those up close! Ah, well, I got pictures of 
Gremlins, Gremlin go-karts ( THREE in one place, red, white, and blue of all 
colors!), Gremlin guys ( hope my camera still functioned after THAT photo 
shoot! ), etc. Whew, it was just a whirlwind day, I look like a deranged 
Rudolph the red-nosed AMC owner after 3 days in the Wisconsin sun! The 
sunroof '71 Gremlin was awesome to see, makes me wish mine were on the road 
now. I didn't see any GT's, did any make it to the show at all???? 
I"m so glad we all got a chance to meet in one place, I suppose this is 
the once-in-a-lifetime show thing that may never have an equal. I hope we can 
trade some photos, I am willing to trade if anyone has some good ones and 
needs some of mine. I won't be able to afford to process all them yet, 
though! LOL. My bank account went negative, my credit card got shut off, I 
had to borrow money to get home... but I made it, so back to reality, and go 
fix my broken finances quickly before it mushrooms into something REALLY bad! 
yikes! 
Anyway, thanks for all the great memories, you guys and gals were 
terrific, and I won't ever forget this adventure ( until my Alzheimer's kicks 
in in a few years, LOL! ) It'll be great remembering fondly all the pluses 
and minuses of the trip and show for years to come ( plus, getting my bank 
account back up to snuff ). 
On the plus side, I did pick up some great Gremlin stuff, found one older 
couple selling stuff DIRT cheap, got two nice early Gremlin rear taillight 
housings and lenses for $10 each, a pearl dash cluster minus gauges for $12, 
some Matador Coupe rear tail lights for $10 each, a 77-78 Gremlin taillight 
for $7, etc. Got a broken locking gas cap for $5, another guy had 5 of them 
the next day for $12 each, I shoulda got his name and number... I had to hit 
the ATM two more times, the last time did me in, ouch! But the PRICES....the 
rare stuff....I got a '78 Matador AM/FM/CB radio, I hope it fits the '78 GT 
dash, for $25, with the mike, the wiring , I COULDN'T pass it up! I have two 
coupes, so I can still use it. LOL. Man, it just wasn't FAIR, so much stuff, 
so little money left. Well, there's always the 200th anniversary show.... 
Take care, take Geritol, and I"ll see ya at the next "BIG ONE"...wherever 
that is! 

Jerry "back" in Virginia...whew! Long trip!