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Final week on the boards for a while
Topic Started: Apr 26 2010, 04:53 PM (1,032 Views)
Dragnet_Supporter
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SUV
A few of you already know that this will be my last week on the boards for a while. Four months to be exact…at least that the plan. I’ll be taking the entire summer off and returning in September.

My reasons are varied. Many of you know I was in a car accident some time prior to my return to the boards three years ago. This left me with certain limitations that flushed my prior career as an artist down the drain. And if I can be quite honest, it nearly sank my marriage right along with it. My wife was in the same accident with nearly identical injuries. Life was in a tailspin for longer than I care to think. Most of it seemingly beyond my control. I’ve regained a lot of my own fragmented psyche over the past couple of years, the mind takes it own sweet time to heal when jarred on a large sort of level…and believe me, life was not the same for a long time on any level. But marriage being a team effort, the problems that followed our accident, only served to exacerbate several pre-existing problems, plus add a lot of new ones. So my time off will be spent in an attempt to reconnect with my partner in life, and discover if we still have what it takes. It would be foolish to think we were the exact same people we were before all this. But hopefully we’ve both learned enough about life to know what we want for our future, and honestly decide if those ideas, hopes and dreams are compatible with the people we are now, as well as who we hope to become.

It was Gerald’s April Fool’s Day post (on Hobbytalk) that inspired my thinking about a prolonged break. The post spoke to a part of my own life, which is probably why I didn’t see it as the joke it was meant to be. It’s also time to put my efforts into rediscovering my creative endeavors through some serious attempts to write. Aside from painting a few customs and my attempts at writing those Dragnet Mystery Theatre stories a couple of years ago, my creativity has mostly been at zero. It would be hard to explain what life is like for someone who was drawing and making up stories for friends and family since being a little kid, having turned that into a career, then having it gone over night. I’ve stated that losing a limb would’ve been easier because a limb is not like losing a functional part of the mind as I have known it all my life. That fact alone is a huge part of me that has been missing and is not helping me to figure out the rest of my life when something so vital to everything I was (or am) is still missing.

I have drafts of novels I’ve written in the past, prior to the accident. But for a long time I just made a mess of them when I tried to push forward with them while life was still such a mess. I think I am ready to take it on now, and the boards are an easy distraction when sitting down at my computer to do anything that might prove difficult.

I’ll be cutting down on my collecting, keeping up mainly with any BWFs or police cars. I’m sure there will be other things that catch my eye, but mostly I’ll be spending excess cash (now that circumstances have freed us up a little bit financially) on taking the wife out and doing things as a couple. It’s been so long since we’ve been able to do that, even on a semi-regular basis since money has been extremely tight.

I don’t usually ramble on about things like this publicly, but I think it’s kind of right to do so here. It’s a place I’ve spent time and gotten to know quite a few people to one degree or another. And I’ve liked the group attitude. I also think that having a few positive thoughts and prayers as I move through my final week on the boards can’t be a bad thing to jump start this phase of life.

Finally, as some of you are aware, and some of you might not be aware, I ordered some cars to give out as RAOKs at CARnival. The order did not come in time to make CARnival, but I have the cars now. I just have to wait until next week to start shipping them out. I’ll be PMing or emailing a few of you for your shipping information.

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jedimario
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RAWR
Good luck on the endeavors, hope to see you back when you're ready! And congrats on the progress you've made, may it keep up!
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roadwarrior
Station Wagon
Nothing wrong with taking a break Robert,family and life come first.I'm glad we got to meet at CARnival and hope we can do it again next year :thumbup: Take care and see you in the fall :wave:
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rattlehed
Fullsize
Sounds like a well thought out plan Dragnet. Coming from you I would expect nothing less than a comprehensive plan for sorting out any problems. When I first joined HT I remember reading your posts and thinking to my self "wow, this is a VERY smart guy, he is truly gifted in the art of expression." Obviously well educated as well.
I can't even imagine having a gift such as yours and somehow being disconnected from it. Your grasp on expression through text must have bred a ton of confidence over the years in one simple fact, you are "in control". To somehow lose any of that "control" has to be an unnerving feeling to say the least, especially for someone who has always had "it".
It was great to meet you at CARnival, I wish I could have spent more time chatting but we all know how these events FLY by, and being torn in 50 different directions by all of the stimuli. I, at very least am glad to have met you before any extended hiatous.
I am sure there are plenty of folks here and on the other various boards that would be glad to lend an objective ear if you ever need to talk. I certainly wish you and the Mrs all the luck in the world. I hope it all turns out to your liking. May each day get progressively easier for you both. May (your choice of deity here) bless you sir.
Peace,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mark
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
All teh Best, May your every dream come true......


See you in the fall

james

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gunn
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Station Wagon
i think rattlehed said it best. i have sat here for over 30 mins try to say the same thing.
i wish you both the best.
gunn
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
We had the opportunity to discuss things at the CARnival and while I hate to see you go from the boards for the next few months, I can't argue with the reasons at all. I will be keeping in touch and I hope that everyting starts falling in place for you. I have high hopes for your marriage because you both recognize the situation and you both want to take this chance to make it work. That's something to build on already. As for your muse, I know all too well what it's like when creativity takes a hiatus. I wish you luck on all of your endeavors for the next few months and look forward to your return!
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accobra64
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Minivan
May the artistic juices flow.
May your mind be constantly creative.
May your marrige flourish.
Be at peace with yourself.
And don't forget to smell the flowers on occasion.
I'm sure that your time away from the diecast boards will prove to be productive.
The very best of wishes from me to you as you move forward with your life, your dreams, and your aspirations.

Cheers. Cobra
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Dragnet_Supporter
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SUV
Wow, you guys are really great, you know that, don't you? I know a lot of folks who have known me all my life that can't sum it up as well as Mark did.
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AQUA XK8
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Fullsize
Robert, I never knew any of that info you posted. I wish you the best and much success in your endeavors.
Just too many people on these boards have tough luck, maybe that's just life, I don't know.

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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

Wish you the best in the coming months Robert. Knew you had a lot of artistic talent drawing wise from the items you've posted here before. Like Aqua though, I wasn't aware of your entire situation and hope you can work on your marriage as that is priority #1 in life.

Best of luck!
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Dadvball
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Dadvball
I'm sorry to hear about the ordeal you've been through, but I'm glad to hear you're taking the time to pull things back together. Life's too short to sit on the sidelines and watch it pass by. I wish you and your wife all the best especially in the next few months and look forward to seeing you back on the boards when the time is right.
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Sak
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Ezekiel 25:17
Much good luck to you, Robert :)
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
I'll be looking forward to your return.
Taking care of yourself is the most important thing of all. If you don't, nothing will be right for your family or friends. Once you realize your head must be together, then things fall into place and everything else follows.
You seem to be well advanced in the process and I'm sure as we speak, everything else is beginning to follow.
It would be so nice if everyone thought as logical, unselfish, and unblaming as you.
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Dragnet_Supporter
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SUV
ivantt
Apr 28 2010, 06:43 PM
I'll be looking forward to your return.
Taking care of yourself is the most important thing of all. If you don't, nothing will be right for your family or friends. Once you realize your head must be together, then things fall into place and everything else follows.
You seem to be well advanced in the process and I'm sure as we speak, everything else is beginning to follow.
It would be so nice if everyone thought as logical, unselfish, and unblaming as you.
Thanks for the encouragement. I think I am starting off on the right foot. And I'll be taking a part of the boards with me when I go. As far as the creative writing part goes, I'll be keeping a running email going with Swifty and Stupidsquirrels. It'll be one part creative journal, hopefully showing progress in that area, plus other creativly encouraging talk.

I feel very fortunate to have stumbled upon such a diverse group of people :thumbup:
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Dragnet_Supporter
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SUV
Hey guys,

It is with a certain regret that I post my last post until September. Be good to each other and yourselves. I'll be signing on one final time next week to update my account info once I switch over to a new phone company--my old one was robbing me.

I'll see you in September. Keep the home fires burning until then!

Best,
Robert
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