Muffin Tour

I'll need to tell my assistant he isn't really "Lake McNew" if that's the correct translation for Loch. Sorry Muffin Man.

A big thank you to everyone who helped with Ted's and Jan's bus. There are several people who deserve special recognition.

First, Jon Wehrenberg was a tremendous help with my Liberty schooling while Ted was in Houston for treatment and the bus needed to be checked to make sure everything was working properly so Jan and Courtenay (their oldest daughter who spells her name the same as my bride) had a comfortable/functional place to rest. While I still think Jon took special delight in running me from outside the bus to inside the bus and back more than several times, I could not have figured out everything without him.

Second, Dave Wishnoff at Liberty has been very helpful with providing information about Ted's bus and putting Jan's interest ahead of Liberty's.

Third to JDUB. JDUB, I can't say thanks enough for the nice ride to Longview on Saturday and the help with the bus when I got it back to Houston. You saved me at least five plus hours of driving and additional work on Saturday.

Fourth to Gordon Deen - the "Dean" of POG. Gordon made a really long trip a great adventure. It was like a college roadtrip without the alcohol. I learned some Deen-isms which I will selectively share with the POG members in the future. Gordon drove at least 700 miles (unfortunately he sometimes likes to multi-task which can make it a little interesting) and made some really great high test coffee yesterday morning around Quartzsite, AZ which kept us on course to make it to Bennettland in world-record bus time. CAVEAT: While we made it to California in record time, we actually did so in obeyance of the posted speed limit (we actually drove a couple of mph under the speed limit) and no animals were harmed in the making of this trip (except for the bird that tried to join us in the front seat somewhere in West Texas).

Fifth to Steve Bennett who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make the process as easy as possible for Jan. I cannot say enough about Steve and his whole approach to a difficult situation.

Finally, I want to thank Ted Delorme for his friendship, spirit and legacy. Gordon and I spent a fair amount of time on the trip telling stories about Ted and figure that he was having a good time with us as we drove his bus across the country. I will miss you my friend...




For what it is worth. The nice young lady at the Cracker Barrel had to be at least 4 foot tall. It was the ears that made her look shorter. JDUB, I am glad you got the message and that Sharon did not try to sugar coat the meaning. Jon, Ditto on the message to JDUB. Keller, if you still have those pretty shoes from the POG rally, I wouldn't be talking smack.

I happened to be in Irvine today and stopped by in the afternoon. sorry I missed you guys, everyone had already left for their respective flights . Steve's guy was hard at work cleaning the bays and sorting thru all the 'collegiate road Trip' remnants . The Liberty is a beauty and the new owners should be very pleased to know how much care POG members take in shepherding a members coach across the country.

Congrats guys! I am proud to know you and thank you for all that you did for Ted's family. I am extremely thankful to be associated with such a fine group of people. Especially one's that understand the correct attire to wear while driving across country.

A big thank you to Loc & Gordon for safely delivering Ted & Jan's beautiful Liberty. Additional thanks to JDub, John W., and Dave W. at Liberty. What a great group of folks we have in the POG organization.

Loc called Monday from the airport to say they were heading back and that the trip had been documented (and commented) on the POG forum. When I told him I didn't know how to get on the forum he sent me a link with instructions and the user ID/password that Jim set up. Thanks, Jim.
I laughed and cried as I followed Loc & Gordon across the country thru the thread. The pictures of the bus and the sunsets brought really sad but sweet memories. Wonderful trips we had over the years I will forever treasure. The sorrow of trips we had planned and will never make spur me to say, "Don't wait!".
Most of you know about Loc, Dean, and Jerry helping us get the bus to California which was an awesome gift in itself. But there is so much more to this POG Family. You guys are a very special group. Ted had more fun with you, real kid poking and playing fun than I had seen him have since we graduated (yes, we were together that long).
I told Jerry about having coffee in bed each morning with Ted on his laptop reading and responding to posts. He'd laugh out loud and say, "Listen to this..." and then he would write something and read me his post. So fun, such pleasure he had with you guys either online or at rallies. I am so grateful he had you guys to be friends with. And when the dark days came you didn't abandon him. Emails everyday from one or more of you encouraging him and razing him in equal measure like guys do. Gordon had the entire congregation of his church praying for Ted and we both felt those sustaining prayers. Ted never felt alone. Loc called Ted regularly and when in Houston he would rescue Ted and get him away for "guy time" (like the RV show in Houston). In those tough last days in the ICU Loc came walking in the room. Never was a more lovely sight than Ted's friend coming in the door. He listened to me and helped me sort out some tough issues with gentle patience.
There are so many other POG friends in distant areas that supported Ted through his illness, and the ones in our state really rallied around us. Funny thing, Ted knew you would. But as Loc said you were only doing what Ted would have if the situations were reversed.
Because I only left the ICU for 6-8 hrs a day to sleep during the last 3 weeks in Houston I don't know all the stories . But I get snatches and bits of them from our oldest son and daughter.
John W. has certainly paid his friendships dues...he coached our son on how to check up and start the bus to drive it to Houston (Ted was in the hospital). Then later 3 of the batteries exploded for some still unknown reason nearly scaring elder son to death and precipitating more "John calls". On the last trip when we flew Ted home from Houston that same son drove the bus home. He was stopped by the Highway Patrol (wasn't speeding) and when looking for the insurance card he inadvertently openned the automatic side auwning. Startled the patrolman and rattled son even more 'cause he didn't know how he did it. Didn't know how to close it. Loc, John W and the folks at Liberty in Florida all got calls that time. They also got "Help! How do you dump the sewer?" calls (and others of that nature) from our daughter Courtenay when her Daddy was finally too sick to help her when we were in Houston.
Jerry, Loc and Gordon came to Ted's memorial service. How precious is that? It was such a welcome surprise. What a wonderful group of true friends all of you are! To us you all stand tall among men. Our whole family thanks the POG family for all you have done for us. And I thank you for being great buddies to my guy, sharing your fun and playfulness with him and enjoying him. We live in the country in Northeast Texas 15 miles north of Longview. Mi casa, su casa. Stop by, plug in. You are welcome anytime. Jan
Email: jwdelorme@aol.com

Jan,

Thanks for the powerful note. Loc is a good man despite much of the evidence present on this board, and It was an honor to be a small part of helping him help you and Ted in your time of need....and we are still here, so just because the bus is gone doesn't mean any of us are going away. I will endeavor to post some more pics tonight of the trip.

Here is the text of a typical email from Ted. This before I stopped in for the night a year ago on a trip to Alabama....I was imploring Ted to be low key, and he was having fun while trying to do his husbandly duty and let you know if I was bringing my wife...
.................

Quote:

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Gordon, we don't do much fancy. Think country people. You still haven't told me if Jennifer is going to be with you.

I need to let the caterer know so the name place markers can be engraved. Wait till you see the Prevost ice sculpture I'm having done.

Now tell me if Jennifer is coming before you get all tied up watching football.


In a message dated 9/20/2009 10:08:14 A.M. Central Daylight Time, gordondeen@fastmail.fm writes:
Ted,

Also, you guys please don't plan on doing anything special - I just look forward meeting you and Jan and visting. I certainly don't expect to be entertained, although I do want to see your new bus!

Real low key and casual is the operative word.

Thanks

Gordon

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Darn, I haven't been on POG in about 5 days, and look what I missed!!! Jeesh! Congrats guys. If I'd known you were coming, I'd have setup a party here.

Ray,

We were afraid if we provided advanced notice of our trip the Governator would call out the National Guard and block our progress at the border. We almost ended up with a full body search courtesy of the Border Patrol in New Mexico. The Border Patrol asked where we were headed and we smartly said Utah. I would have offered to bring some of that World Famous JDUB Porta-Potty Parade Chili if I had known that you and Gary would have stopped by to see us.

As promised, more pics:

Loc Star Living Large

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Contrails

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More Artsy Stuff of Pro Driver

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Pro Driver in Windshield

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