Feel Good Post

[doug_porsche]

Wanted to share a feel good story on a different forum. Out of a real *****ty circumstance (Dr gets fired after a hostel takeover, and then looses his daughter), great people band together to help.

I know its a different forum, but still a cool car forum, showing that frequently great people are car people.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f115/i-want-help-my-dad-67328/

Warren, can you keep an eye on this little girl for a while?

[Oh Haha]

You need to log in to view the page.

maybe you could cut and paste it for us?

Sounds like an interesting story.

[Laneco]

Awww, come on Doug, share it!

We could all use a little good news...

angela

[doug_porsche]

Dang. I will post the highlights here, the original post is up to seven pages. So this will be long, but really is the "short version"
Some background: One of the moderators on the Lotus group is "Randy Chase" who happens to own "Chase Cam". "J" is the young daughter of one, of many, stand up guys who is having an unfortunate run of luck. He is a MD whos practice was purchased in a hostile takeover, and then one new owners came in on a Friday and informed everybody that it was their last day. Then the bottom really fell out when one of his young daughter passed on.

Here are some of the high points of the great people that frequent these forums.


I want to help my Dad
Hi everyone. It's J. I'm home from school because it is exam week and I have already taken all of my tests =). Dad's packing up his stuff from his old office today. Mom's with S at her tumbling class. So I have some privacy and can be sneaky. I know some of you know what has been going on because last night Dad let me read some of the comments in the threads he wrote.

Anyway, I don't think my Dad has been doing too well since our sister died. ***edited*** I never saw him cry before either. Last year we were making a shelf together and I saw him put a drill bit through his hand. He said, "Oops." There was blood pouring out of his hand. I almost puked.

I've heard him crying in his room with the door shut a few times since she died. I know he must be really sad. When he's with us he's smiling and acts happy but I can tell he's faking. He's a horrible actor. It's kind of hard not to laugh at him when he tries to look mad when we've done something wrong. He told me last night that he has to change jobs but he told me not to tell my sisters. He said that he and Mom would talk to them about it later. I heard him late last night tell Mom ***edited*** he's really worried about losing his job. ***edited*** Then after the baby died my Dad has been crying more. It is always late at night in his room by himself. My Dad is not a failure. He's awesome.

I know his car makes him happy. I also know there are some things for his car that he has wanted to get. C came up with an idea and we have been talking. We've got some money saved from our summer work money and want to buy one or two of those things for him to help cheer him up but we're not sure what they are or how to get them.

I know he has wanted a camera that points front and back and chases cars and a logger. I googled both. I saw this CAMERA CARS UNLIMITED for the camera but I don't think that is right. For the logger I came up with either a guy who cuts wood or some math thing that I didn't understand. I don't think he wants a math thing for his car or a guy to cut wood for him.

Will someone please help me figure out exactly what we should get him and where we can buy it?

Thanks for reading!
J


Randy Chase's reply

I think I know what your dad would want and my company makes it and I can help you out (no money needed). Do you want me to move this thread so he can't see it? Let me know.

One of many responses to Randy's offer

Randy-
Thats very generous and if you need some people to chip in to cover your costs, let me know.

Edit: I agree that you may want to hide the thread.

"J" response, remember that she is youn (I am guessing around 10 or so)

Hi Mr. Chase! I don't think Dad can read this. He's at work and they locked his computer. I think we've got plenty of money saved. We counted almost $300 last night in our piggy banks. Can we buy something from your company? What is it called and how do we get it?

After some posts to convince J that this is what her dad is wanting, her response is...

THAT'S IT! and we've got just enough money =).

After some more posts, offering to chip in, one of the people try to help J understand Randys offer.

Randy is that company,(Chase Cam), and the one offering you a free one..

Continued next post

[doug_porsche]

Randy trys to explain.

Use the money to buy him something else. Like a nice sweater and a card. I appreciate that you are willing to spend, but you don't need to with me. It is the thought that counts.

J still does not get what is being offered...

Can someone help me figure out exactly what to do? I'm here BulletCam System, 520+ lines | ChaseCam but not sure about the details. I think we pick NTSC but what power source do we get him and does it need a microphone?


Randys response

Please just let me take care of this. I know what he needs.


The light comes on!

Wow you guys type fast.

Now I get it. Mr. Chase = ChaseCam. That's pretty cool.

Randy...

So, just get me a shipping address. I will take care of the rest. I will include a coupon for a free upgrade to a new product which he will want that we are coming out with in a couple months or less.


Quote:
Originally Posted by rnr View Post
Roadkids and Randy are both awesome
I agree that Roadkids are awesome, but really... anyone in my position would do the same thing. Thanks anyway.

I think the important thing for me is that things like this put everything in the proper perspective. This is what is important. It makes me feel better.

J is giving it her all, but....

I just opened Dad's email. He really needs better passwords =). Mr. Chase, I'll send you an email from his account. I'm not allowed to use the phone when my parents aren't here unless I'm calling 911.

Words of encouragement from great members...

J

It's such a nice gesture from you that I've almost started crying myself. You want to help your dad? A chase cam setup is great, but you'll help him most with a hug. I'm talking about getting in his arms and just squeezing him for twenty solid minutes straight. Cry with him. Tell him he's the best dad you could ever imagine. Tell him you need him and his strength. Tell him you're going to love him so much to make up for the love he's lost. Then squeeze him some more.

xtn

J is working hard on understanding technology

AAAAHHHH! How do I delete the email I sent? I don't see it anymore. It is a hotmail email.

the group works J through deleting the e-mail so dad does not catch on. During the next three pages, J is worried about getting in trouble when dad finds out she e-mailed something.

Continued next post (Sorry this is the short version...)

[doug_porsche]

J's thoughts

Mr. SweetDaddyD (<--that's funny), I'm scared to email anything else. I think my Dad is kind of big but he looks smaller every year to me. He's still a lot taller than me but not for long =). It looks like Mr. Chase sent the address to you already. Thanks Mr. Chase. My Dad has an Elise and a Seven but the Seven is going to be mine =).

Mr. Chase, thank you again. I really do know that Dad is going to love the camera. A free upgrade is going to make it even better. I didn't even know you could upgrade cameras. You're really awesome like my Dad.
Also Mr. Chase, you hid this thread really well. I couldn't find it at all.

I didn't know what a sot was so I looked it up in the dictionary. It's an awesome dictionary Dad bought me after I won a spelling bee last year. It's really heavy though. I just won our school spelling bee too and will be going to the county spelling bee in the spring =). It has two noun definitions. "Archaic: fool, idiot" or "a person dulled by excessive and continual drinking: a habitual drunkard."

You don't seem like an idiot or a fool so does that mean you drink a lot?

Randy replies

No... I don't drink a lot. It is not good for you. Went almost a year without drinking at all after some heart and liver issues this past year, At times, I can certainly play the role of the fool.

Finally, here is road dads response, (J's dad)

This is a long post... I'm sorry.
Wow. I don't know where to start. My daughter is right in that I really don't cry much but this has really gotten to me. I'm having trouble seeing the screen clearly. Their thoughtfulness and the support of everyone here on the forum are far beyond anything that I could have imagined. The past weeks have been really hard. I appreciate all of the support, comments, PMs, words of encouragement and understanding that everyone has shown in my past few threads and in this one. I have learned a lot about myself, my wife, my children and my communities over these past few weeks. I apparently still have a lot to learn about each of them. The world is full of wonderful people with very large hearts (and most of them are apparently members of this forum).

Randy,
Thank you for your generosity. This was very much above and beyond. I read your post where you said "anyone in my position would do the same thing." I will have to respectfully disagree with you there. Not many people in your position would have cared or would have done what you did, especially to the extent to which you have gone. You are a very kind, thoughtful, and generous man. I'm sorry I was so confused on the phone. I really thought ChaseCam had sent something to the wrong address. Thank you for pointing me to this thread to help eliminate my confusion. It still took me a few moments after reading the first few posts of this thread to figure out exactly what had transpired. Thank you for supporting my daughters not only with this but also by allowing them their own account and tolerating their threads and posts. I think you have taught my daughters how to care for others in a way that I could never have done myself. I do not know what they will do for a living in the future but I am sure that this lesson will remain with them and extend into their future interactions. I will never let them forget it. Also thank you for not telling my daughter that this CAMERA CARS UNLIMITED really was what she was looking for . It amazes me that 6 minutes after she posted you were already planning to send not only a camera but the entire ready to use set up and encouraging her secretiveness with hiding the thread. (EDIT: Randy, I just caught that after you offered the camera to my daughter "no money needed" you then offered to delete this thread. I'm very glad that you didn't delete it so that all could see your generosity and caring). You are again a thoughtful and wonderful person and definitely not an old sot (thanks for teaching my daughter some new vocabulary as well . Now I know that dictionary is getting some use after all ).

I am obviously going to have to ignore my daughter's rule breaking in this thread (no internet without the parents home, no email, no talking about my bald head and especially the no hacking into my accounts anymore "He really needs better passwords =)." I really do...) as it looks like she had some encouragement and instruction in a few areas and because sometimes the ends really do justify the means. She is really a good kid and her heart was in the right place. Some of the posts she made here even made me laugh through the tears. I can see the panic on her face: "AAAAHHHH! How do I delete the email I sent?" I bet she started to sweat right about then . And then the "Mom's home. I have to go."

xtn,
I was wondering why I was getting so many hugs from the kids over the past few days. Not that I ever mind hugs from my girls but they were all going a little excessive with the squeezing. Now I know why. Thank you for also teaching my daughter and reminding her/them about not forgetting the power of a simple hug.

codymac, Ian, slaughtr, kestrel74, davecarama, and anyone else that also offered to contribute,
My sincerest thank you. I appreciate your generosity even if Randy didn't take you up on it. Your hearts were there. Thank you.

slaughtr,
I remember a thread you made about strangers from this forum, many with just a common bond of a car marque, sending you things that you had need of. I now understand exactly what you mean.

RacyTracy,
Thank you for the offer to come here and help. I appreciate it tremendously.

Mike,
You're still on that helmet, huh? As I told you before, you're a good man. After this, I'll think about it.

SweetDaddyD,
Sorry about my daughter laughing at your screen name. I don't know what struck her funny about it . I also don't know what you have planned to send, but thank you in advance. I'll let her tell me it was from her .

To all who showed their support to my daughter and to me here on the forum,
Thank you.

I'm sorry if I have missed someone as I'm sure that I have. I sat down here after talking to Randy about two hours ago. It has taken me awhile to get through this thread and to write this post. I'm a bit worn out from all of this.

Thank you all.


It takes a community to raise a child. I am glad that two of mine are part of this one. (the third who "signed up" here has lost almost all interest in cars for the moment but I'm working on that ).






Sorry for this being long, and remember that this is just the readers digest version and does not require the same number of Kleenex that the original does.

Just wanted to update one group of awesome people with what a second group of awesome people are doing. The brand of the car differs, but the hart remains the same!

Doug

[onewhippedpuppy]

Awesome. It's very true, in most cases car people are good people. God knows I've met my fair share of great people through my interest in cars, both here and elsewhere.

[rammstein]

It is very important for me to read things like this. I often believe that most people are out for themselves and don't give a damn. I almost didn't believe it at first, seemed amazing for a kid to be so generous and thoughtful. Very very cool.

[Rikao4]

agree with Ramm,
thank you..

great dad,awesome kids..

Rika

[Jim727]

Too, too cool!

Bravo!

[vash]

that kid types better than i do.

wow. how old is she?

[Laneco]

Awesome - thank you Doug! What a great group of people!

angela

[Oh Haha]

Wow.

Thank you for taking he time to post all of the remarks.

This type of thing is just another reason to remember that while an individual's problems are important, there are others out there that have it much worse.

Also, it shows again that car "guys and gals" really can step up in amazing ways when a need is shown.


You know, Barry Meguire(Meguire's Wax, Car Crazy host)is kind of a caricature of himself, IMO, but he does push the car hobby as being able to bring folks together, in good times and bad. I tend to agree with him.

[Jims5543]

Randy is a class act. I have one of the first recorders he made and it crapped out after 2 years of use and he replaced it for free.

That was a heartwarming story. Its always good to see E-friends help one another out.

I have become quite close to some of the Pelicans on here that live in proximity to me in the SE USA and we all take care of one another, no strings attached. We meet up every fall at the Dragon and I am proud to call those guys my friends, each and every one of them would give me the shirt off their backs if they had too. I would do the same for them.

[KarlCarrera]

wow......thanks for sharing.....put's things in perspective...

Karl
88 Targa