This is probably long overdue, and I wanted to post here several times previously... just couldn't bring myself to do it. Thanks to everyone for your patience and understanding over the past few months. Here goes...
After losing our only child, Cameron, I went into a bad tailspin, and for a while didn't know how I was gonna pull out of it. Depression set in and took control of my life in ways that I never imagined. Thanks to faith-based and professional counseling and an incredibly supportive Chevelle "family," my life has slowly started to come back together. I was humbled by everyone's thoughtfullness, kindness, and prayers. At the same time, I was also inspired by the kind thoughts, cards, letters, emails, and prayers. Thank you to all who were so kind to LaRae and me during this difficult time.
The healing process also caused me to re-evaluate the things that are important in life. And when it comes right down to it, faith, family and health rank right up there at the top. So I decided I've burned the candle at both ends AND in the middle for the past 30 years, and that's about long enough.
I chose not to renew my HorsePower TV contract this year, electing instead to help pull our lives back together, finish the new home we've been building for the past year, and put some focus and new energy back into ACES. Although the pace can still be frenetic at times, getting the TV monster off my back has lifted a tremendous work burden and eased my mind (TV is a really cut throat business!) considerably.
Aside from trying to keep up with ACES and TV, I was also doing some sales/marketing consulting with performance automotive manufacturers, making personal appearances, fund-raising work for St Judes Children Hospital, and doing some hi-resolution digital photography for advertising agencies. Those activities are also on hold for now as I commit myself to getting caught up with the back issues of Chevelle World first.
The July/August issue is currently in the mail, and some have even reported receiving their copies. It's a great issue with (almost) cover-to-cover CB'05 coverage. I'd like to thank Greg Martin for his friendship and dedication, as he made the trip from St Louis to Nashville to help put that issue together. His boot up my butt kept me focused on the organizational work that needed to be accomplished to get things wrapped up. Writing, as many of you know, is pretty much a solitary endeavor and although I understood intellectually the need to get that issue completed, emotionally I was incapable of finishing the job on my own. During the times when I'd stare at the walls waiting for the right words to come, my train of thought would become derailed as I kept thinking of Cameron and the intricacies of life.
I'd also like to thank Rob Mirabile... the only true "*******" I've ever known from Long Island. Rob's story about his journey to and enjoyment of Chevell-abration is the cornerstone of this year's coverage; many of you may have read his musings in thier original form here shortly after the event. In my "family" of Chevelle lovers, Rob is one of my "brothers" and he and his family will hold a special place in my heart forever.
So, with all that being said, here's the plan: I'm halfway through the Sept/Oct issue now, and soon's we get it on press and in the mail, the Nov/Dec issue will be next. I hope to get the production of the back issues caught up by the end of January. Of course, the Jan/Feb issue is the one that contains all the CB'06 info and registration form, so that's also a high priority and we'll be getting on that as soon as possible, too. Those that have "missed" the past few issues can rest easy, as we will make sure that everyone who has those issues coming to them will get them, at least as far as their ACES membership expiration goes. Those that have joined in the past few recent months will actually get a few "extra" issues, since we were mailing out the last ones that were printed before our tragedy, and your expiration date is based on the month we recieved your Membership application, not the month of the issue we mailed out to you.
OK, I've taken up enough bandwidth here for now. Thanks for sticking with this missive to the end. If any ACES Members have any further questions, please feel free to call on the ACES Hotline (615) 773-2237 from 7-11pm CST. LaRae and I truly appreciate everything everyone has done for us recently during this difficult period. God bless you all.
After losing our only child, Cameron, I went into a bad tailspin, and for a while didn't know how I was gonna pull out of it. Depression set in and took control of my life in ways that I never imagined. Thanks to faith-based and professional counseling and an incredibly supportive Chevelle "family," my life has slowly started to come back together. I was humbled by everyone's thoughtfullness, kindness, and prayers. At the same time, I was also inspired by the kind thoughts, cards, letters, emails, and prayers. Thank you to all who were so kind to LaRae and me during this difficult time.
The healing process also caused me to re-evaluate the things that are important in life. And when it comes right down to it, faith, family and health rank right up there at the top. So I decided I've burned the candle at both ends AND in the middle for the past 30 years, and that's about long enough.
I chose not to renew my HorsePower TV contract this year, electing instead to help pull our lives back together, finish the new home we've been building for the past year, and put some focus and new energy back into ACES. Although the pace can still be frenetic at times, getting the TV monster off my back has lifted a tremendous work burden and eased my mind (TV is a really cut throat business!) considerably.
Aside from trying to keep up with ACES and TV, I was also doing some sales/marketing consulting with performance automotive manufacturers, making personal appearances, fund-raising work for St Judes Children Hospital, and doing some hi-resolution digital photography for advertising agencies. Those activities are also on hold for now as I commit myself to getting caught up with the back issues of Chevelle World first.
The July/August issue is currently in the mail, and some have even reported receiving their copies. It's a great issue with (almost) cover-to-cover CB'05 coverage. I'd like to thank Greg Martin for his friendship and dedication, as he made the trip from St Louis to Nashville to help put that issue together. His boot up my butt kept me focused on the organizational work that needed to be accomplished to get things wrapped up. Writing, as many of you know, is pretty much a solitary endeavor and although I understood intellectually the need to get that issue completed, emotionally I was incapable of finishing the job on my own. During the times when I'd stare at the walls waiting for the right words to come, my train of thought would become derailed as I kept thinking of Cameron and the intricacies of life.
I'd also like to thank Rob Mirabile... the only true "*******" I've ever known from Long Island. Rob's story about his journey to and enjoyment of Chevell-abration is the cornerstone of this year's coverage; many of you may have read his musings in thier original form here shortly after the event. In my "family" of Chevelle lovers, Rob is one of my "brothers" and he and his family will hold a special place in my heart forever.
So, with all that being said, here's the plan: I'm halfway through the Sept/Oct issue now, and soon's we get it on press and in the mail, the Nov/Dec issue will be next. I hope to get the production of the back issues caught up by the end of January. Of course, the Jan/Feb issue is the one that contains all the CB'06 info and registration form, so that's also a high priority and we'll be getting on that as soon as possible, too. Those that have "missed" the past few issues can rest easy, as we will make sure that everyone who has those issues coming to them will get them, at least as far as their ACES membership expiration goes. Those that have joined in the past few recent months will actually get a few "extra" issues, since we were mailing out the last ones that were printed before our tragedy, and your expiration date is based on the month we recieved your Membership application, not the month of the issue we mailed out to you.
OK, I've taken up enough bandwidth here for now. Thanks for sticking with this missive to the end. If any ACES Members have any further questions, please feel free to call on the ACES Hotline (615) 773-2237 from 7-11pm CST. LaRae and I truly appreciate everything everyone has done for us recently during this difficult period. God bless you all.
