Ripken, Labor Day, New Neighbors & Willy Wonka
If you were present for last Saturday’s gathering, thank you for contributing to a superb morning. Our ‘dry roads’ streak is nearly Cal Ripken-esque at 12 so we’ve also had a superb summer. After our gathering, I drove north for judging at Corvettes at Carlisle. The cars and people were amazing but the ‘dry’ portion of the day was over. Hot cars and hot sun! While walking and jogging about 12 miles during the double-event day, I sweat out the water as fast as I could drink it. Sacrifice in the name of automobiles.
The upcoming 3-day weekend is a big one in American culture. According the the U.S. Department of Labor website, Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Our Saturday mornings in Hunt Valley celebrate our people and, in a way, the results of - and the respite from - labor. May you and yours celebrate together and celebrate safely.
A developing topic on Saturday mornings is how our community will co-exist with the new apartment complex that is adjacent to Hunt Valley Towne Centre. As renters begin to occupy the property, there’s the consideration that a few enthusiasts – that may display a lack of consideration – may test the nerves of occupants with loud exhaust notes. [Don’t be that person.] With vehicles exiting to the south and the apartment complex completing the vertical amphitheater to the north, there may be moments where the occupants experience a rock band that isn’t playing a desired tune.
Our gathering area at Hunt Valley Towne Centre has evolved over the years. Eileen Fisher, Joe’s Crab Shack, Marshalls and Pier One Imports have all been added to form our gathering area’s perimeter. The Avalon Bay apartments are a big step in that evolution. Our community – as it has always done – must continue to respect the property and the surrounding community. Let’s maintain the relaxed, respectful family-friendly atmosphere. While our surroundings may change, we must remain the same respectful people.
On a closing note, rest in peace to Gene Wilder. Gene passed away Sunday night. You may not know that he’s the reason why people – since my 6th grade year – have called me Will. As a young guy, I had hair much like Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka character and my birthname of Richard took a backseat – for many - to the name that fit the hair. Here are 2 quotes from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory that fit our community. The first is “We have so much time and so little to see. Wait a minute! Strike that, reverse it. Thank you.” That speaks to our Saturday morning gatherings. There’s also “We are the music makers...and we are the dreamers of dreams.” Each of us forms the Saturday morning experience and we’ll all make Hunt Valley Horsepower a special place to gather today and in the future. See you down the road!