The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

A good phono buddy called yesterday and was excited to tell me about his recent acquisition, a Victrola XVIII. A good deal of our conversation was centered around the great trip he had from Montana to Nebraska and back. Do you have a memorable phono road trip? Jerry Blais

1970 - My first Edison. I found it in our local town "dump" while searching for deposit bottles. We used to get a nickel for every one of those old glass soda bottles. Too bad we turned to plastic.......

Driving about 3 hours with Orthosean to pick up my Credenza. (I'm not so certain he recalls it that way)

I imagine most of us have had many great road trips. All those Union shows, Wayne shows, and other shows going back from Wilmington to Claymont to Secaucus to Livingston... I've been going to phono shows for 32 years! And there have been lots of short, relatively local road trips of 75 miles or less one-way. But they've all been focused primarily on what I brought back. Despite the autumn sun glowing through fall foliage, the snow hanging in big flakes in front of the windshield before being lifted over the van, or the hazy blue sky and rich green of rural New York in the height of summer, the most memorable part of those trips was usually what was in back while heading for home.

I've already bored members of this forum with my account of driving to Maine over the past Columbus Day weekend to take possession of an Amberola III. This trip was special not only for the machine I was bringing home, and the nice scenery we enjoyed along the coast, and my bride of 36 years sitting beside me, as always. All those things were wonderful, but they had all occurred before. This trip was special because for me, it was a celebration. In August, the bloodwork from my annual physical came back with my PSA over three times the norm. I decided it was due to bicycle riding, which can elevate a man's PSA. My urologist suggested a biopsy of my prostate, and I certainly wasn't going to argue. About a month ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Those of you with any experience with this will already know that if you have to have a cancer, this is a pretty good one. It's slow-growing, and there are a variety of treatments to consider, depending on one's age, health, and aversion to risk. In my case, it was clear that the prostate must be removed. That will happen one week from today (Oct. 23). I've got a great surgeon, and I'm scheduled to have robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, which means faster, more comfortable recovery, and - most important - less chance of long-term side effects. There's no doubt in my rational mind that I'm going to be fine. Even my wife Barb seems confident, but I know she's worried. Yet, on that Maine trip, we were like a couple of kids ooohing and ahhhing at the little villages we drove through, eating lobster, and even doing a little shopping (I hate it, but anything for the little lady).

So I returned from Maine with a stiff neck, an Amberola III, the love of my life, and the expectation of more trips like that one, someday. But should expectations go awry, as they sometimes do, I will have no complaints. None. That's why this Maine trip was a special one for me.

George P.

Driving about 3 hours with Orthosean to pick up my Credenza. (I'm not so certain he recalls it that way)


Lifting a Credenza is a true test of friendship. Jerry

I once helped a guy carry a Borgia II up a long flight of outside concrete steps, and I don't even get a birthday card from him!

George P.

While I have had several great road trips, I've yet to take a phono road trip.

I'm rooting for 2013!

phonogfp wrote:I imagine most of us have had many great road trips. All those Union shows, Wayne shows, and other shows going back from Wilmington to Claymont to Secaucus to Livingston... I've been going to phono shows for 32 years! And there have been lots of short, relatively local road trips of 75 miles or less one-way. But they've all been focused primarily on what I brought back. Despite the autumn sun glowing through fall foliage, the snow hanging in big flakes in front of the windshield before being lifted over the van, or the hazy blue sky and rich green of rural New York in the height of summer, the most memorable part of those trips was usually what was in back while heading for home.

I've already bored members of this forum with my account of driving to Maine over the past Columbus Day weekend to take possession of an Amberola III. This trip was special not only for the machine I was bringing home, and the nice scenery we enjoyed along the coast, and my bride of 36 years sitting beside me, as always. All those things were wonderful, but they had all occurred before. This trip was special because for me, it was a celebration. In August, the bloodwork from my annual physical came back with my PSA over three times the norm. I decided it was due to bicycle riding, which can elevate a man's PSA. My urologist suggested a biopsy of my prostate, and I certainly wasn't going to argue. About a month ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Those of you with any experience with this will already know that if you have to have a cancer, this is a pretty good one. It's slow-growing, and there are a variety of treatments to consider, depending on one's age, health, and aversion to risk. In my case, it was clear that the prostate must be removed. That will happen one week from today (Oct. 23). I've got a great surgeon, and I'm scheduled to have robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, which means faster, more comfortable recovery, and - most important - less chance of long-term side effects. There's no doubt in my rational mind that I'm going to be fine. Even my wife Barb seems confident, but I know she's worried. Yet, on that Maine trip, we were like a couple of kids ooohing and ahhhing at the little villages we drove through, eating lobster, and even doing a little shopping (I hate it, but anything for the little lady).

So I returned from Maine with a stiff neck, an Amberola III, the love of my life, and the expectation of more trips like that one, someday. But should expectations go awry, as they sometimes do, I will have no complaints. None. That's why this Maine trip was a special one for me.

George P.

Wow. Just wow. I only just now read through the previous posts, and read yours.

What a beautifully poignant and touching story. I am so very sorry, George. I will be praying for your full recovery, and peace for both you and your bride come what may.

George, I'm so sorry to hear about your cancer diagnosis. I'm recovering from the exact same surgery, both diagnosis and procedure, which was done one week ago. So far everything is on schedule, as I understand it, and I'm healing well. My goal is Stanton's, 5 ½ weeks after surgery.

My prayers go out to you.

BTW: "anything for the little lady" is right! Works well here, too.

Jim

Thank you, Tink and Jim, for your very kind posts. And thanks to the many who have sent supportive PMs and emails. I am touched - truly moved - by the many kindnesses shown me by members of this forum over the years and particularly in response to this thread. We are all blessed with many good people on this forum.

Jim, best wishes for your continued recovery. I hope I can do as well!

But now I'm worried that I've unintentionally diverted this thread from the fun that Jerry started. I'll bet there are plenty of good road trip memories to be added - - I'm looking forward to reading them!

Thanks again and very best wishes to all,

George P.