From The Staff
A Friend In Need is a Friend In Deed
By David Marin & The CruZin' Staff
Having been hammering this magazine together for upwards of 20 years, there are many “memory moments”. It is those moments that I call to mind when the typical day to day glitches cause me to be less than appreciative of the good fortune with which I’m blessed.

For example, this issue has been plagued with computer meltdowns. Hours on the phone resolving issues with tech support, hours recreating data lost due to assorted computer related glitches.

Then, in the course of putting together this issue I learned that our good friend, dyed-in-the-wool gearhead and longtime CruZin’ supporter Warren Kindle was dealing with health issues, very serious health issues. A lot of hospital, intensive care type serious.

Obviously, Warrren could not work and before long his company, Sandblaster’s Inc., in Marysville, WA was in jeopardy. Warren and his wife Angie were looking at a pretty scary situation. Mounting medical bills and other expenses precluded hiring someone to step in and fill Warren’s shoes. And how could they even hope that someone would come in and run the business for nothing.

Enter Warren’s longtime friend and fellow rodder Larry Lorentzen. Yessir, Larry went to work, righted the Sandblaster’s Inc., ship, so to speak, and has been running the show, keeping the doors open, in fact, doing good business.

So, as I sit at the computer I make a memory moment of what Larry Lorentzen did for his buddy Warren Kindle. And I reflect on the many times I’ve heard similar stories about gearheads doing for gearheads when the chips were down. What it comes down to is that the quality of people with whom we work and for whom we work makes it a real privilege to continue to do what we do.

We also need to pass along a get well soon “order” to Audrey Gibson. Audrey suffered a broken right arm, broken above the elbow, and is living with her arm taped to her body for the next eight weeks or so. Audrey and her husband Dave are highly valued CruZin’ Correspondent’s and they and their classy 1937 Lincoln Zephyr Roadster will certainly be missed at many events over the next couple of months. Get well soon Audrey, please!

Another get well soon “order” goes out to our dynamic duo over in eastern Washington; that would be Annette Barton and Sandie McCollum. While dealing with medical issues within her family, Annette has also been dealing with her own medical problems. Thankfully, Annette is on the road to recovery and is doing the rod run/car show thing, albeit a somewhat restricted pace.

And finally, because we’ve been asked, daughter Jessica, who grew up with the magazine, selling subscriptions and detailing street rods, at last report had, after eight years of service, earned a full ride scholarship from the United States Coast Guard. The update is that Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Hawaii Pacific University in June, 2008. In August she’ll head for Officer’s Candidate School at New London, CT and in December she’ll graduate as an officer in the Coast Guard. Yeah, we’re just a little proud.

One final note… we here at CruZin’ would sure appreciate it if you, our readers, would mention to the advertisers, seeing the various event ads and learning of events you attend through CruZin’ Magazine.