The the time… Drive a Hellcat, and don’t burn your leg.
 

Take the time… Drive a Hellcat, and don’t burn your leg.

My friend, fellow brother in Christ, client and River Rat Mr. Terry Boffone passed away last week way too young (67). Mr. Terry was never one to let you pay in a restaurant, even if you were not with him. He would see you across several tables and when you went to pay the shot, find it was already paid. It became a kind of game when we would see each other in one of our favorite eating places, Oak Oven in Harahan to see who could pay first.

My company took care of Mr. Terry’s companies technology. I always enjoyed going on a service call at Progressive Barge and talking to Mr. Terry and his crew while looking over the Drag Nova he had. He, like I, loved cars and racing of all kinds.

Recently, Mr. Terry became ill. He made great plans for his company to succeed him, and Frances his daughter, will do a great job. He prepared her.

Several weeks ago Mr. Terry called and we discussed how I recently was able to meet President Trump. We talked about how important it is to take every chance life gives you, but also to take the time to enjoy life. We talked about how he recently had a Dodge Hellcat delivered to him, even though he was too ill to drive it at that time. I was very glad to hear from his family that he got well enough in the last few weeks to drive that Hellcat. Unfortunately, as life does, things took a turn and Mr. Terry went to his final home to be with our Lord late last week.

Tomorrow will be his funeral. Today, I took the time to go get one of my Muscle cars to drive to the funeral in honor of Mr. Terry. I walked past the Big Block SS427, past the newer cars and to the corner where I chose my Day 2 Roger Penske 1970 Z28, Citrus Green with sidepipes. It seemed most appropriate as the one that Mr. Terry would have liked the most.

As I turned the key, and that small block LT1 350 roared to life I smiled and knew that Mr. Terry was smiling. All the way home, I took the time to enjoy that ride. I may have even left some rubber at various streets from Harahan to St. Rose. Several people, ok several men, smiled when they looked up upon hearing the unmistakable thumpity thump of a heavily built small block chevy motor. Many thumbs up on the way home.
I pulled into the driveway and was happy. I took the time.

As I turned the ignition off, opened the door and started to step out of the Camaro, I promptly burned my left leg on the sidepipe. I had to laugh (between the tears of pain) because this is exactly something that Mr. Terry and I would laugh about the next time I saw him.

Take the time. Drive a Hellcat, and burn your leg if you have to (ok maybe skip that part). Family, Friends and Memories. Those last.

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/Rich

Sorry for the loss of your friend. He sounds like a great guy.

Thanks for sharing Rich. Sorry for the loss of your buddy!

Indeed life comes at you fast. When the end is near you will reflect on what matters. Then the end is very near you loose your connections to the material world entirely.

The only thing left is the people you know and love.

Wow! This hit home and made me tear up. Thanks for sharing.
No really, thanks Rich.

My condolences on the loss of A Great Friend.

Dan

It's interesting you would say this Phil...I totally agree. For me the key to happiness is to realize and internalize this early enough in your life that you can use it as a guiding principle to do good for other people.

Rich's buddy Terry seemed to live his life in the same manner.

'

Nice tribute Rich and sorry you've lost your friend.
Your words are right on too Phil and Tony, sad but most will never understand 'til it's too late.
:frown:
~ Pete

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sounded like a great person. Sorry for your loss

Thanks for posting. It's never easy to let someone go, but it makes it a little easier when you know that they had Jesus as Lord and Savior and they truly are in a better place. It's great that you have such good memories of him and that you enjoyed your day in the Camaro. We only have so many days here, and then eternity.

I had a set of those pipes on my '72 SS454 Chevelle. A few girls had burns on their legs after going out with me, even after I warned them about the pipes.

Thanks for sharing that with us Rich. It should remind us all that life is way too short and not always fair and that we should enjoy every minute of it. It should also remind us to walk past the petty things and worry about things that would really effect us, not the trivial ones. Lastly, let bygones be bygones. Put past issues with people aside, move on and make amends. Life is way too short. Sorry that you lost a very good friend.