Changing gears

[Susanne]

Not worth it. Sorry.

[TRDxB2]

So the Museum in question is the California Automobile Museum. The first automobile museum in the west to be established in perpetuity. Founded in 1983 as the California Vehicle Foundation, the museum opened to the public in 1987 as the Towe Ford Museum, displaying the largest collection of Fords in the world, courtesy of Edward Towe, a Montana banker. Karen McClaflin is the executive director of the museum.
--
Do you have anything that can prove the chassis in question is yours, even a picture of you next to the chassis. If not, look at it from their perspective, they can't release items to people that make a claim on an item without some proof of ownership. On the other hand a Museum should have a record of when and how an item was received into inventory (for insurance purposes etc).

You say you had your Dad store it for you in his Museum (Towe Ford). What do you mean by "his Museum". This relationship may help.
How would thy know if they have such an item and do they still have it? Would they sell it back to you?

[TWrenn]

Regarding Frank's query as to the car being in "his" (your dad's) Museum, I thought the same thing...exactly what does that mean? Did he literally have a "stake" in this museum? If so, they surely should be responsible in getting you the car back I would think. Frank asked if they "would sell it back to you?"....well my response to that would be WHY the hell should they? It's still her fricking car unless someone signed off some papers to transfer ownership in whole or in part. Assuming there's a title trail, it's HERS....she shouldn't have to buy the stinking thing back! Honey if I lived in or near Califunny I for one woulda been glad to take up your cause. Cause I love doing that stuff. I love a challenge. But I'm on the opposite side of the country and well lets face it, it would be difficult. It's gonna take people FACE TO FACE, pounding on someone's G-D desk with maybe a cop standing by in the process. FWIW, and IF it's even worth it, hire a good lawyer in that area. There's gotta be one. But then, we are talking about Califunny....

And this is the first I've even heard of your conundrum, but then I don't really "follow you" on your threads either. All I can say is good luck hon. I feel bad for ya.

[NY John T]

Sorry to hear about your situation. There are a lot of people who do care about another's problems when it comes to model T's. I don't know you or what happened in the past. I'm just wondering if you have thought of hiring an attorney. Do you have documentation that the frame is yours? Or any paperwork on any transfers? Do you know where the frame is currently? Or the condition? Is it under another body? Are you located in the US or Italy as your profile says?
Some do care,
John

[TMiller6]

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pr ... d=15169201

Susanne’s father was a director on the board of the Towe Museum.

[ModelTWoods]

I feel your pain. The details of my situation are completely different, but the main idea is the same; someone stole something valuable from me that I can never replace. Back in the 1970's, I bought a 1975 Ford F-100 4x4 Ranger XLT, equipped with a 360 V8, 4 speed manual transmission, and otherwise fully loaded; black on black. When the warranty on the engine, expired, i pulled that engine and replaced it with a 428 Police Interceptor engine. I turned a workhorse into a Muscle Truck that could run with any truck, and most cars, of the time. One night, I went to the Houston Automama car show and parked it in a parking garage that you paid to park in as you entered. You didn't have to show your ticket when you left. When I returned to get my truck, it was gone. I was frantic. I walked and searched every floor of a four story parking garage. Of course, I reported it to the Houston Police and my auto insurance company, but to no avail, and it was never found. The Houston Police told me the truck's fate was probably one of two; either it was driven to Mexico as fast as possible, or it ended up in a "chop shop" and dismantled for parts. It took me a long time to get over my loss. The truck was one of only a handful that I have seen come up for sale, so modified, since then, BUT I finally accepted my fate; that I was never going to get my stolen truck, back. I don't blame the City of Houston (the parking garage owner), nor do I blame the Houston Police Department for not finding my truck; nor do I blame John Q. Public for not helping me find my truck. For 48 years, I've just accepted my fate and loss and accepted the fact that Stuff Happens, and Life Isn't Always A Bed of Roses.

[TWrenn]

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pr ... d=15169201

Susanne’s father was a director on the board of the Towe Museum.

Thanks for the info Tom. Something seems weird then, if he was a director, I can't understand why or how this chassis could not be given back to its rightful owner. If I were Susanne I'd be calling the state D.A. office and go from there. Being ignorant in all the details, I'll just say there's a rat in the woodpile.

[jiminbartow]

Whoa! Where did THAT come from? This is the first have heard of your problem yet, I feel the confrontational, accusatory, pissed off way you’re approaching every member here about this is to blame all of us, as a body, for not caring. That is not the way to ask for help and will not endear us to your cause, however worthy it may be. Even if I did know about it, what could I do about it from Florida.

You need to approach it in such a way as to make people WANT to help you instead of being hostile and making us think… ”Well, if I’m going to be accused of not caring, I guess I won’t care”.

My 1926 coupe chassis has the same number stamped into it as the engine number. Is it possible there might be a number on it that matches the number on the title? I believe 1926 was the first year Ford started stamping the engine number on the chassis, but I could be wrong.

Anyway, I do care but as I said, there is not much I can do from Florida. Good luck to you. Jim Patrick

[Ed Fuller]

I’m sorry for your situation, but if you don’t have any documented proof of ownership I’m not sure what you are expecting from everyone.

[Oldav8tor]

First I've heard of it. I don't know why you'd think people on this forum wouldn't care. Steve Jelf is only the latest recipient of help from members of this forum.

The comments to your post are all good.... without some evidence it is very difficult to make a case. You are the only one who would know what or where that evidence is. Give people something to work with and I think you'd be able to get some help.

Regardless, I wish you luck and am sorry for your pain....

[TRDxB2]

Regarding Frank's query as to the car being in "his" (your dad's) Museum, I thought the same thing...exactly what does that mean? Did he literally have a "stake" in this museum? If so, they surely should be responsible in getting you the car back I would think. Frank asked if they "would sell it back to you?"....well my response to that would be WHY the hell should they? It's still her fricking car unless someone signed off some papers to transfer ownership in whole or in part. Assuming there's a title trail, it's HERS....she shouldn't have to buy the stinking thing back! Honey if I lived in or near Califunny I for one woulda been glad to take up your cause. Cause I love doing that stuff. I love a challenge. But I'm on the opposite side of the country and well lets face it, it would be difficult. It's gonna take people FACE TO FACE, pounding on someone's G-D desk with maybe a cop standing by in the process. FWIW, and IF it's even worth it, hire a good lawyer in that area. There's gotta be one. But then, we are talking about Califunny....

And this is the first I've even heard of your conundrum, but then I don't really "follow you" on your threads either. All I can say is good luck hon. I feel bad for ya.

"Buying it" is a point of negotiation. If they have it, and Suzanne wants it bad enough for sentimental or whatever, they may give a more reasonable price or just some dollar figure for the bookkeeper & auditors The best thing is to ask them how to get it back rather than argue
and put them on the defensive.

Lastly, buying it would be cheaper than lawyer fee to get it back for free

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Susanne,

I don't know you, and I have never heard of your unfortunate situation. By the same token, you do not know me and you have no idea what or who I care about. To group and define me, as a member of this forum, along with all the other good people here, who also know nothing of your situation is grossly unfair and insulting to all of us.

Regardless of what you may think, I feel bad for you and your trouble. I hope you can somehow work this out. Past that, I have no idea how I could possibly help you. Again, I hope you can get back what is yours. Short of that, I hope you can find peace.

[Erik Barrett]

In the current market a 1920 chassis is worth about $500 in good condition. You can spend the rest of your life being angry or just buy a cheap driver quality model T for about seven grand and enjoy it without having to spend way more than it’s worth restoring it.

[frontyboy]

Sorry for your loss. In my 50 plus years in this hobby, I can't tell you how many donated or loaned cars went over the mid night fence. I remember going to Towes museum and seeing official Internal Revenue Service Lein tags on many of the cars. Seems Mr Towe had a lot of tax issues a little manipulation of bank funds to support his museum according to the articles written at the time. I remember reading some of the stories that the reason to move the museum and its cars to California was to try and keep ahead of the IRS. There were a few articles written about the issue back in the day.

Your car may have been caught up in the IRS sale or simply given away. As long as it has been, I would suggest you put your efforts into finding a like car that you lost. No need to harbor all the anger for so many years, find another model t and enjoy.

P/s I salute you and honor for your service to our fine country

frontyboy

[Susanne]

Last question first - Yep, we moved to Italy about a year and a half ago. Retired from my state job, and enjoying the sub zero weather, er, "warm sunny Italian days". (Seriously, it was -4º C here this morning - Brrrr!!!) But that's part of the problem - were I still in California, I could have had it shipped with my household goods. No duties, and with the container of all my other household goods. Even IF I got it back, I'd have to pay duties on it's value (did someone really say $500? I'd love to find a restored running chassis (even without the Ruckstell) for $500. I bet you would, too!) AND the cost of shipping it here AND clearing the motor vehicle thing on this end.

So for me it's mainly academic - I certainly don't expect the Museum (if they still have it, which honestly I doubt) would pack it up and send it to me. Or even sell it to me and ship it. It would be fair, but hell, like they taught me already, life isn't fair. More like "Screw you if I can, and if you say something, we'll try to make you look bad".

So yeah... I had a LOT of anger back then, but now it just stings whenever it gets brought up. I'm not a 18 year old kid or 40 year old asking for help, I'm 21 (OK, 3, but who’s counting?) and a little closure would be nice. Kind of like if you went out to your garage, found your "baby" had been lifted, you found it and had them threaten you for trespassing to try to get it back (they did that - "banned" me from their property and actually had the CHP remove me from their facility, warned never to return.) and it's eluded you for 20 years. Cold case? Kind of like this morning!!!

With the shenanigans that went on there, (I recounted the paperwork fiasco on the T mailing list when it happened), I wouldn't be surprised if they sold it or it did get auctioned or, hell, given away. That's why I posted the motor number every so often - hoping someone somewhere would at least answer the question as to what happened to it. Hell, if they would have offered to "sell it back to me" (flaky, but again, yeah) I probably would have jumped at it for nostalgia's sake...

And BTW, I DO apologize for impugning the “honor of the club”. I DO know there are good people here who would do the right thing. I also found out there are some who would rather throw rocks and, well… that gets me or you nowhere good, now, does it?

Now, where's this $500 (or even €500) chassis that I can buy?

[tdump]

Wow,first i have read about this situation.But with me on the east coast, not much I could do but shake my head in disgust that anyone would keep your T from you.
Do you have serial numbers? if the museum sold it and you have proof of ownership,you may be able to track it down? Of course being over there in the land of spaghetti and pizza,it is going to be much harder to do that.

[KimDobbins]

I've looked at the Towe auction catalog and the appraisal done on all the Towe cars in Sacramento and Deer Lodge, Montana. There was a 1924 T Ford chassis sold at auction in Deer lodge but no chassis was sold at the Sacramento auction. The California Automobile museum in Sacramento may have records of the sales from the 2 Towe auctions.

[Susanne]

Sorry, that was pretty offensive.

[Rajo23]

Do you have PROOF of ownership??
That is the ONLY question that actually matters.

[Susanne]

I've looked at the Towe auction catalog and the appraisal done on all the Towe cars in Sacramento and Deer Lodge, Montana. There was a 1924 T Ford chassis sold at auction in Deer lodge but no chassis was sold at the Sacramento auction. The California Automobile museum in Sacramento may have records of the sales from the 2 Towe auctions.

The 24 in Deer Creek was VERY close to my car... mine had fenders and running boards and a ruckstell. (and of course, it was a 20)

Had no idea cars were getting shuttled between Montana and California. Adds a twist to it I hadn't considered.

[Susanne]

Do you have PROOF of ownership??
That is the ONLY question that actually matters.

Yep, had them back then.

[Jeff5015]

My intention in responding here is not to be aggressive but constructive. I hope this advice will aid you in connecting with those who truly want to assist you.

You omitted the details that it was a completely restored and operational chassis with a rebuilt engine, etc. From my perspective, "a chassis" could mean either a frame on four wheels or a frame with a drive train without wheels or any collection of parts thereof. Your initial description has permitted each of us our interpretation. Hammering someone for assigning an arbitrary value to the words "a chassis" won't be helpful. The use of abbreviated curse words also fails to contribute positively. As a group, dedicated to the same hobby, our primary interaction should be civil before anything else.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Do you have PROOF of ownership??
That is the ONLY question that actually matters.

I did and I do and well, what, you are the DMV to ask me for a pink slip 20 years on?

God, I love the way this hobby went.

You clearly are no longer interested in this hobby and the people in it. Maybe you should find something more suitable to your temperment. As to how people here treat you, I'd say you're being treated WAY better than your recent diatribe merits.

[RVA23T]

Please seek mental health services in your area. You seem to need help in dealing with your life choices and the consequences of those life altering decisions you made in the past.
Not being funny, for real.

[kmatt2]

Susanne, I don’t know anything about who was the rightful owner of the restored 1920 chassis that is in question. I do know Erik and think that his main point is that after 20 years it is time to move on from this because holding on to the anger isn’t good for you. I also have a story from the news a few years ago in Visalia California. I was not personally involved in this nor owned any of the cars involved. This is what happened to some car collectors who had 1960’s Pony Cars at a local body shop being restored, or so they thought. The car body work wasn’t getting done and after many complaints from many car owners the State of California and CHP got involved. The body shop owner was brought up on charges for taking much money for work on the cars that was never done. But my point to you is that when the car owners came to get their cars, only the owners that had titles or other proof that the State of California and the CHP accepted, got their cars back. The owners that didn’t have proof , had their cars impounded by the CHP. In the end some car owners not only lost the money they gave the dishonest body shop owner, even though they had work orders showing amount paid, they also lost the car because they didn’t have proof that they owned the car in the first place. Those cars were sold by the court and the State of California at auction to pay court costs and pay back some money to those who did have acceptable proof of ownership.
The time for settlement on who owned the 1920 chassis was 20 years ago, now is the time to move on and do something that will give you more pleasure.

[Nathan K]

God, I love the way this hobby went.

Well, I'm relatively new to the hobby and can wholeheartedly say that I'm glad I haven't met or interacted with anyone like you thus far. So, if you're a reflection of the way things were, then I'm truly thankful that the hobby left you behind.

[Susanne]

The time for settlement on who owned the 1920 chassis was 20 years ago, now is the time to move on.

You're right. Best answer of all... it's at this point all water under the bridge. Thanks Kevin, for talking sense to this old, addled mind. Jeez... I posted that flaming wreck? Sorry, folks!!

Please seek mental health services in your area. You seem to need help in dealing with your life choices and the consequences of those life altering decisions you made in the past.
Not being funny, for real.

This helps... how? Just asking for those voices in my head... all those voices...

[tdump]

The time for settlement on who owned the 1920 chassis was 20 years ago, now is the time to move on.

You're right. Best answer of all... it's at this point all water under the bridge. Thanks Kevin, for talking sense to this old, addled mind. Jeez... I posted that flaming wreck? Sorry, folks!!

Please seek mental health services in your area. You seem to need help in dealing with your life choices and the consequences of those life altering decisions you made in the past.
Not being funny, for real.

This helps... how? Just asking for those voices in my head... all those voices...

Forgive my observations if they offend but folks like me have not heard of your loss until recently ,as in the past few days.
And I can tell from your responses this hurt like h--- when it happened. but what I don't understand is why it was dropped so easily, 2 days ,30 days 30 years, if someone takes something of mine, and I know I am in the right, I wouldn't give up until they laid me in a cheap pine box.
so why did you give up just because police didn't do anything? Were lawyers consulted? Don't bite my head, just help me and others understand what happened.

[Susanne]

Forgive my observations if they offend but folks like me have not heard of your loss until recently ,as in the past few days.
And I can tell from your responses this hurt like h--- when it happened. but what I don't understand is why it was dropped so easily, 2 days ,30 days 30 years, if someone takes something of mine, and I know I am in the right, I wouldn't give up until they laid me in a cheap pine box.
so why did you give up just because police didn't do anything? Were lawyers consulted? Don't bite my head, just help me and others understand what happened.

Hey, no offense, seriously! You really want to know? (Winding up the victrola, que-ing cheesy music...)

A few days ago, on another list, someone asked "what useless numbers to you remember from years ago?", and of course, the serial # of the chassis popped up in my mind. Then I started thinking on it, obsessing on it (like I did way back when), thinking "I wonder if it was ever found", and... well... Here ya go. That's where this radio drama started. It's a lot of family politics involving my dad (when he was dying from some mysterious, long and progressive disease no one had heard of), his last wife (who put restraining orders on dad's 3 kids (we were supposedly a threat to her physical safety??) and passed out his stuff - what she didn't sell or give away - to her 2 sons from her former husband (who mysteriously died in a fishing accident - lots of mystery there ).

At the time, 20 years ago, I did fight like hell. I shouldn't have had to, it was originally all laid out in black and white (Dad, mom, and us kids) and updated annually (around Thanksgivingish). Stepmmom was an extremely detail-oriented precise kinda person (former legal secretary), so everything was there. She died, dad remarried, and thats when shit fell apart - dad got paranoid, got sick from what looked like heavy metal poinoning (but was told it was "Progressive Supranuclear Palsy") and eventually died. THinking all was just and right, I go to the museum, with my dad's handwritten instructions to turn the car over to me. They said come back in a day or 2, and when I did, they had CHP escort me off their property for trespassing.

I couldn't afford a lawyer, I tried but that drained my wallet quick (we were up to our asses in house payments.) I tried to enlist help from the club, because, well, people had known me since I was 9. They knew my dad, my Stepmom (Edna), some even knew my real mom (Dodo). They knew about the car and the bike and the other car and all of that. I get why they didn't want to get involved - after all, 3rd wife was their friend, had given them a lot of dad's stuff, and you don't want to offend his memory, and well...

Thats why nothing happened then. Since it was so long ago, right or wrong, that's where it ends. Like I said, it's over. The time to do something was 20 years ago, now it's all water under the dam and over the bridge (or vice versa), Time to move on, so I am.

Now if'n y'all pardon me, the nice guys in the white coats are handing me a dixie cup, and telling me I need to get to my basket weaving class...

(Edited to add - That was my 1000th post here. Who the hell woulda known?)

[tdump]

Forgive my observations if they offend but folks like me have not heard of your loss until recently ,as in the past few days.
And I can tell from your responses this hurt like h--- when it happened. but what I don't understand is why it was dropped so easily, 2 days ,30 days 30 years, if someone takes something of mine, and I know I am in the right, I wouldn't give up until they laid me in a cheap pine box.
so why did you give up just because police didn't do anything? Were lawyers consulted? Don't bite my head, just help me and others understand what happened.

Hey, no offense, seriously! You really want to know? (Winding up the victrola, que-ing cheesy music...)

A few days ago, on another list, someone asked "what useless numbers to you remember from years ago?", and of course, the serial # of the chassis popped up in my mind. Then I started thinking on it, obsessing on it (like I did way back when), thinking "I wonder if it was ever found", and... well... Here ya go. That's where this radio drama started. It's a lot of family politics involving my dad (when he was dying from some mysterious, long and progressive disease no one had heard of), his last wife (who put restraining orders on dad's 3 kids (we were supposedly a threat to her physical safety??) and passed out his stuff - what she didn't sell or give away - to her 2 sons from her former husband (who mysteriously died in a fishing accident - lots of mystery there ).

At the time, 20 years ago, I did fight like hell. I shouldn't have had to, it was originally all laid out in black and white (Dad, mom, and us kids) and updated annually (around Thanksgivingish). Stepmmom was an extremely detail-oriented precise kinda person (former legal secretary), so everything was there. She died, dad remarried, and thats when shit fell apart - dad got paranoid, got sick from what looked like heavy metal poinoning (but was told it was "Progressive Supranuclear Palsy") and eventually died. THinking all was just and right, I go to the museum, with my dad's handwritten instructions to turn the car over to me. They said come back in a day or 2, and when I did, they had CHP escort me off their property for trespassing.

I couldn't afford a lawyer, I tried but that drained my wallet quick (we were up to our asses in house payments.) I tried to enlist help from the club, because, well, people had known me since I was 9. They knew my dad, my Stepmom (Edna), some even knew my real mom (Dodo). They knew about the car and the bike and the other car and all of that. I get why they didn't want to get involved - after all, 3rd wife was their friend, had given them a lot of dad's stuff, and you don't want to offend his memory, and well...

Thats why nothing happened then. Since it was so long ago, right or wrong, that's where it ends. Like I said, it's over. The time to do something was 20 years ago, now it's all water under the dam and over the bridge (or vice versa), Time to move on, so I am.

Now if'n y'all pardon me, the nice guys in the white coats are handing me a dixie cup, and telling me I need to get to my basket weaving class...

(Edited to add - That was my 1000th post here. Who the hell woulda known?)

Sounds like your dad married a psychopath. It happens when men have been married along time and they loose their spouse.they can't handle being alone and that is the when the witches come in that know how to take advantage of the situation to the fullest. strange why you were removed from the museum like a criminal. I can't quite figure out how that was done

[Susanne]

Sounds like your dad married a psychopath. It happens when men have been married along time and they loose their spouse.they can't handle being alone and that is the when the witches come in that know how to take advantage of the situation to the fullest. strange why you were removed from the museum like a criminal. I can't quite figure out how that was done

Damn... color me dumb, but I had no idea. But it sure seemed that way - I know the marriage between my (real) mom and dad was doomed before she died (of cancer) - she adored him, but he wasn't happy, and they fought like cats and dogs - Then mom died, and dad remarried to the woman who would end up the love of his life... my stepmom, Edna. Then 13 years after moving into the house where my mom died, SHE died - also of cancer - and I think it devestated dad. Some of his friends intro'd him to "wife 3" (who worked with him), and well... The honest belief among us kids is had dad not married this woman, he would have lived a lot longer. When he passed - it was some hyper-rare disease, which mimics heavy metals poisoning. Lotsa weirdness there!

So... why I was removed from the museum? They contacted W3 to get her OK to release my car back to me. This was easy. My guess is (knowing her antics) not only refused, but said I had no righs to anything there, all of it was hers, and to keep me from "going crazy and rampaging the collection" (yep, that would be in her wheelhouse) hey;d better have CHP escort me from the property. Remember, this is a woman who put restraining orders out on us kids to keep us away from her shenanigans, so... why not? All I know is when I got there I was escorted off the property, not a word to say, and in tears.

Sucks. That why I had to move on - because I had no options. I contacted a lawyer at the time, who said it was hopeless - I had no chance. I could fight it, spend a lot of money (which I didn't have) and lose. Her new attorneys had everything wrapped up tight. So... yeah. (And people think I'm the crazy one for being angry and bitter over this... ) All this just because I was curious about if anyone had seen my restored chassis.... What fun!!

Oh heck, I gotta run, morning here in Italy, and I have another delivery coming, plus my other 1/2 is going for the written driving test today - 30 random questions, T/F, out of a pool of 10,000, all in technical Italian, and minimum passing is 90%. Easy peasy, right?

[Wayne Sheldon]

Sounds like your dad married a psychopath. It happens when men have been married along time and they loose their spouse.they can't handle being alone and that is the when the witches come in that know how to take advantage of the situation to the fullest. strange why you were removed from the museum like a criminal. I can't quite figure out how that was done

Damn... color me dumb, but I had no idea. But it sure seemed that way - I know the marriage between my (real) mom and dad was doomed before she died (of cancer) - she adored him, but he wasn't happy, and they fought like cats and dogs - Then mom died, and dad remarried to the woman who would end up the love of his life... my stepmom, Edna. Then 13 years after moving into the house where my mom died, SHE died - also of cancer - and I think it devestated dad. Some of his friends intro'd him to "wife 3" (who worked with him), and well... The honest belief among us kids is had dad not married this woman, he would have lived a lot longer. When he passed - it was some hyper-rare disease, which mimics heavy metals poisoning. Lotsa weirdness there!

So... why I was removed from the museum? They contacted W3 to get her OK to release my car back to me. This was easy. My guess is (knowing her antics) not only refused, but said I had no righs to anything there, all of it was hers, and to keep me from "going crazy and rampaging the collection" (yep, that would be in her wheelhouse) hey;d better have CHP escort me from the property. Remember, this is a woman who put restraining orders out on us kids to keep us away from her shenanigans, so... why not? All I know is when I got there I was escorted off the property, not a word to say, and in tears.

Sucks. That why I had to move on - because I had no options. I contacted a lawyer at the time, who said it was hopeless - I had no chance. I could fight it, spend a lot of money (which I didn't have) and lose. Her new attorneys had everything wrapped up tight. So... yeah. (And people think I'm the crazy one for being angry and bitter over this... ) All this just because I was curious about if anyone had seen my restored chassis.... What fun!!

Geez Susanne, sounds like some of your family is as bad as some of mine!
I had heard there were some "issues" when your dad was near the end, but was not aware of any of these details! It saddens me that you had to go through all that.

I often hear of how "family is the most important thing in one's life", and other similar sentiments. And while that may be true for some people, for a lot of us, it is total BS!
I have said it a hundred times over the years. "A good friend is better than bad family ANY day!"

My wish for you is that I hope you find what you are looking for in Italy, or wherever you can find it.

I always enjoy reading your posts on this forum! Even when you wandered a bit off the reservation. I think?
Be well!