Galaxieland.com's 10th Anniversary

Galaxieland Newsletter

May 3, 2010

Hello, From Galaxieland, in sunny and finally getting warmer, Florida. Seems this winter was cold and snowy, everywhere else in the USA, but even for us Floridians, it was a 6 or 8 week battle, with temperatures well below normal. In fact, we had record lows, for about 8 days in a row, and below freezing, even as far south as Miami.

As the start of 2010 began, some things began to return to normal around here. I can’t help but remember a very good song, from the older days, made popular by The Byrd’s in 1965. While their version was and still is the most remembered, there were a couple other versions released in 1962 & 1963.

To everything - turn, turn, turn

To everything - turn, turn, turn, there isa season turn- turn – turn and a time to every purpose under heaven......:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap...

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up...

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance...

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing...

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away...

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak...

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace...

It had a lot to do with the Vietnam War, the economy and other things, which were happening around the country at the time. It was our generations’ way of expressing how we felt. Even today, some of these words still have lots of meanings... with regards to our countries' current economic flight, with the current wars, recession, high unemployment rates, and even high gas prices. We can all (those that remember that song, which include a lot of readers reading this now) share what it meant then and what it means today.

With having said that, this year, 2010, also marks a special anniversary for Galaxieland. It was 10 years ago, this June (2000), that this chapter began its roots. While at  Kissimmee, Fla.'s Old Town., Wayne and I, took notice, of how many Galaxies we saw, at their weekly, Saturday night Cruise In, and came up with the thought of starting a local chapter, since there were no southeastern  chapters, of the Ford Galaxie Club of America, at that time. Back then, we only needed 15 National members, to begin a chapter.

So, Galaxieland Southeast began, that night. As time began to "turn-turn-turn", sort of speaking, once we got rolling, we grew very quickly. We had our 1st fall Regional meet, in November, of 2001, with 35 Galaxies in attendance. Soon after that, we hosted the 8th Galaxie Nationals event in Daytona Beach, Florida, at Daytona International Speedway in November 2004. My, how times have "changed-changed-changed", since then.

Seems we all, have had bad times, fall upon us and then, things happen, for a reason. Wayne and I renewed our split friendship, a couple months ago at a local Ford dealership, when he was out driving his Galaxie one Saturday morning. I tracked him down, in the used car lot, because I had never seen that car. As I approached this Galaxie, thoughts of the early days, of searching out Galaxies, whenever one was spotted, returned to my head. I am sure they did for him too. Since then, we have had numerous conversations and emails, remembering the good old days of having fun, meeting, and greeting, other Galaxie owners.

As “Time” would have it, things happen, for a reason, and we have reason to celebrate this 10th year anniversary, of what now is called Galaxieland  (Southeast dropped, because of Carolina Galaxies, and Atlanta Galaxies, formed, which is a good thing for the National Club).

During our most recent meeting, Wayne asked me to write this newsletter, for the next Gazette, to announce that, WE agreed on a plan and those plans are underway now for a 10th Anniversary Reunion of Galaxieland. As with high school reunions, Wayne and I are working on getting, as many original members, as well as, recent and current members together, to have a meet and greet, event. October 15th-16th, 2010, at the Lake Mirror Classic Show in Lakeland, Fla., is the choice.

If you have never attended the Lake Mirror Show, you will be in for a treat. If you have attended, you know what a wonderful event this is. It is, by far, one of the most, if not the best organized, show ever. They have 16 blocks of downtown Lakeland, that they park, all kinds of classic cars, by groups. Down around the lake, they have a special area, for many different cars on display, as well as Classic Custom restored boats, NASCAR cars, and even have a special showing of amphibious cars, known as "swimming cars", on display. The boats and Amphicars, perform a show, on the lake, for everyone on Saturday afternoon during the event.

Please take time to look at their web site www.lakemirrorclassic.com and view pictures of their past events. I am sure, you will get a real good feel of how good and enjoyable, this event is and it will be this year as well. They do a wonderful job. The registration, for the 2010 show is not currently open, but should be up and ready online around June 1st. 

So, as the song says, "there is a time, and a purpose for everything...." and now, is the time, to let every Galaxie owner you know, or knew, even the ones that do not currently own a Galaxie, as well as, the ones looking to become Galaxie owners and let them ALL know, they are welcome to attend and reminisce about the days in the beginning, to catch up on old friendships and meet members they/ you have not met yet. Things happen, for a reason. We can’t change things in the past and we can’t go back and do them over, as most of us know. Mistakes have been made in the past, but again we can’t change those. We CAN, however, find time to forgive, to heal old wounds and move forward with our lives. We hope you will consider attending this 10th Anniversary event with us. We welcome anyone (Galaxie owners, even those that want to be Galaxie owners) on vacation, in Florida in October, to make this a date, and come enjoy this event.

Regards,

Rick Cabaniss...

AKA: Galaxie Rick....

 
Regards,
Wayne
Director - Galaxieland