My amazing Christmas....

[Schumi]

I'm just getting recovered from the crazyness that was my holidays- less of holidays and more of a work nightmare that is winding down- but my girlfriend got back from France on the 30th and we had 'Christmas' together, and I gave her my present- the Cello.

You guys might have seen my thread asking for advice on Cellos. Well, I got her one. I went halfway between a student model and more professional model, it's brand new, but reworked by a luthier (worked the peg box, tailpiece, nice strings, etc.) She loves it. She started lessons this week with this ukranian lady who plays in the la phil I think. So yea, she was stoked.


But I was in for a surprise. For what she got me... was.. I still lack the words.

I unwrap a framed, original print of the 1994 Monaco Grand Prix poster that featured the winner of the 93 event- Ayrton Senna in the MP4/8. This poster has the unique value in that it was pulled from production right before the event.... as Senna died two weeks before Monaco at Imola and thus would never race at Monaco in 94. So finding an original copy of this poster that isn't a reproduction or a canvas copy is rare... but there is something else...

It is signed by the man who won the event. Michael Schumacher. For Michael to sign such a poster is amazing in my opinion, as he, of all the drivers, was definitely one who was very shaken by the passing of Senna. This was the last driver to see Senna alive before he went off at Tamburello (being right behind him).

1994 was the first time I had Cable TV and the first time watching F1. The San Marino GP was a big deal for me, and this poster, being one of the rarest F1 posters in modern times, is a big deal for me.

My girlfriend heard me mention the poster to some friends out one night after seeing it featured on Jalopnik, here: The saddest poster for the Monaco Grand Prix

And here it is framed, still not on the wall, can't decide where the best place to put it quite yet...:

[Peterfrans]

Great story, she's a keeper I presume?

[azasadny]

Nice, thoughtful gifts... the best kind!

[Danimal16]

Very coooool!

[strupgolf]

Heck, I just cleaned out my attic and threw away lots of those. Hmmm. Just kidding. Great find and a great girl to give that to you. I have a first edition of Mark Donohue's book signed by him in 1975, just a few weeks or so from his fatal accident. I also have a Kenwood poster showing Senna in the Honda/McClaren somwhere, but I need to get it framed. It just sits out in the garage.

[Zeke]

got my '97 Monaco program (in French) off the wall to see. Senna owned the place winning 6 times, 5 in a row through '93. Lots of pics of Ayrton in the programme.

[Doug E]

Very nice ... great gift !

[Flieger]

Wow.

[Don Plumley]

Nice.

[HHI944]

So............when are you going ring shopping?
Because if you don't marry her, there'll probably be a line of guys from this board willing to do so...

[Laneco]

She's a keeper Schumi, and so are you.

When you get married, someday in the future, you should elope. Because if the people on this site find out, we'll all crash your wedding!

angela

[Hard-Deck]

I'll crash for sure.
But I have thd best wife so yours will be 2nd best

[azasadny]

We've got a pic of the poster, now where's a pic of the giver of that gift?

[aleerpsoftware]

wow...cool!

[Reg]

Very cool gift. Sure sounds like you are on the right track with this one. Now if you can somehow take her to this years Monte Carlo GP.

I personally never really liked MS much over his career but have to say I was cheering for him this year. Hope he has a good car next year so he can fight more up at the front. Rooting for him in the sort of underdog sort of way I guess.

[ShakinJoe]

Make sure you have good glass in that this to keep uv from fading it.

Great score and the poster ain't bad either.

[DanielDudley]

SWEET !

I got socks and a sweatshirt...

[Rick V]

Very cool Mike!!

[Danimal16]

Oh, and Schumi, you keep up this cool stuff and show us how super neat your girl friend is, you know thoughtful, kind, etc., and we are going to have to remind you that you suck! We will have no choice.