Happy Thanksgiving 2009!

Today is a special day; a day in which we take a break from the frantic flow of our regular lives and give thanks for the important things in our lives. Almost all of us are blessed in ways that we are too busy to acknowledge with the frequency that we should; for my part, I am grateful for my family, friends, health, a rewarding career, and the ability to pursue my interests.

More than that, though, I am thankful for:

• The existence of cars, miraculous machines that the world too frequently ignores, underrates, and maligns. Cars aren't just a lot of fun to drive and enjoy; they democratized access and transportation by giving each of us the ability to cover great distances independently and relatively cheaply.
• This blog, which has grown beyond my self-interested and frequently eccentric murmurings, blossoming into a real destination with a diversity of viewpoints and voices.
• My fellow Car Lust contributors, who have helped carry so much of the editorial load and whose participation has made this blog infinitely more interesting.
• Our readers and commenters, who enliven this place with conversation and who make Car Lust the most commented-on Amazon blog.
• The entire Car Lust community's patience with my frequent absences from the blog, driven by a personal and professional schedule that has been remarkably frantic in 2009. 
• The virtual but very real friendships this blog has allowed me to create with my fellow contributors and with many of the commenters. I would be significantly less fulfilled as a human being had I not gotten to know (among others) Cookie The Dog's Owner and his love of Alarm fur Cobra 11; Mochi Mochi's breathless excitement about automotive beauty in odd places; Anthony Cagle's love of huge American iron; David Drucker's and Rob the SVX Guy's completely divergent views on, well, everything; Big Chris' devotion to the Chevy S-10 and booming sound systems; Nathan's earnest quest to find a poor man's BMW; David Colborne's ability to mix wry automotive commentary with esoteric military history; Chuck Lynch's appreciation for George Barris cars; ...m...'s odd attraction to both the Toyota Echo and Tommy's Dad's amazing genius at used car challenges. This is to say nothing of the honor of conversing with Virgil Exner Jr.
• Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit fame, who has repeatedly shown his lack of good taste by frequently linking to us over the last few years. I am convinced that most of our contributors and readers found us through his links. Thank you, Glenn.
• Amazon, to an incredible degree, for providing the resources to run Car Lust and for allowing me to donate my time to this blog and trusting me to ensure that my involvement here doesn't interfere with my job helping improve our Auto Parts & Accessories store.
• Chuck, for taking the Vega Turkey picture above. It's timeless and completely wonderful.

--Chris H.

Comments

[That Car Guy on November 26, 2009 at 03:41 PM]

I am very thankful to Car Lust for the many openings it has given me in this last year.

First, I have been reunited with a family I had lost contact with since 1992, thanks to the Ferrari 365 GTC-4 post. Second, I recently returned from my first trip to San Francisco, made possible by a connection opened through here. I worked for 2.5 days, then had fun for 3 more. And finally, the opportunity to expand my computer knowledge while mumbling, fumbling, and stumbling with images, text, and an occasional quacky commentor or two.

Oh, and I also got to meet Cookie!

Here's hoping it's this good next year! 8)

[Chris Mallow on November 26, 2009 at 04:22 PM]

I am thankful to have found this blog (yes, I found it via a link from Instapundit). I feel like I have found a community of folks who love cars of all types, and who get the same charge I still get every day when I turn that ignition key.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

[Rob the Audi Guy? on November 26, 2009 at 11:45 PM]

This blog does rock, and I am thankful for it. I haven't been contributing as much as I'd like to, due to my whole life being in a funk, but I am working on something pretty cool that should be done in the next week or so. I will take this opportunity to say thanks to everyone here, it's been a really great experience getting to know what you are into, and your personalities. I just hope 2010 turns into a better year for me than this one.

[Chris Meirose on November 27, 2009 at 12:11 AM]

Mr. Hafner and I have been online friends for many years. A few years ago we met in person, with my then girl friend (now wife) and his expecting wife in tow. I got picked up in a sweet Mercedes Chris had to test drive for work. We grabbed lunch in West Seattle at Alki IIRC, and would you guess what we spent the whole time talking about? Cars. It was like playing a game of pepper, but rather than balls being fired off a bat at me to field, it was car questions with momentary pauses as we would hit upon a shared lust. And in some crazy way all of that brought us to today. So I am thankful for Chris' friendship first, but the blog second. I appreciate all who contribute, and the silent ones who just browse by.

--Big Chris

[Cookie the Dog's Owner on November 27, 2009 at 07:17 AM]

I don't have a lot to add to what Chris said or what I wrote here last year. Spending a day at the Studebaker Museum with Mr. Exner (http://www.carlustblog.com/2009/07/studebaker-national-museum.html) -- something that would never have happened without Car Lust -- is probably the high-water mark of my life as a car buff. I have fun writing these little essays, but the greater thrill is always when I see in the comments threads how what I've written has touched so many others.

[Anthony Cagle on November 27, 2009 at 09:21 AM]

Chris Meirose: "A few years ago we met in person"

At first I read that as 'prison'. Heh.

I'm quite thankful for this blog and especially Hafner for giving me the opportunity to sing the praises of lots of my favorite cars. I've sat and read about the joys of the '68 Camaro (does anyone know what a 'camaro' is?) for years and found myself shouting to myself "But what about the '68 Buick Wildcat?? It's awesome!"

Other contributors and commenters have also made me rethink a lot of things. I never really gave much thought to the Scirocco or the Honda CRX or even the RAMPAGE!!! but nowadays I look at even those cars I didn't have much interest in with new respect.

This thing fills a niche that isn't really covered anywhere else. While nearly every magazine and web site only highlight these cars on their occasional "50 Ugliest/Worst/Most Unsuccessful car lists, Car Lust gives them their due as part of the automotive landscape, warts and all. Good show to everyone who reads, comments, and writes here.

[jjd241 on November 27, 2009 at 06:06 PM]

I also would like to thank all the contributors and our illustrious leader Mr. H. This last year has been more enjoyable thanks to our mutual lust. When I stumbled upon the site I quickly went back and read all the past posts. It has awakened a new appreciation for all things automitive and also led me to other great blog communities (i.e http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/category/editorials/curbside-classics/ ). I hope this week and the coming holidays find you all well. JJD in Olympi WA.