So where to begin with this update... The short version is I still have the truck, it is in running driving condition. It came back from the frame shop in late 2018 with the new custom ORD suspension and everything dialed in pretty well. It runs and drives better than ever. The only thing left to make it legal is the bodywork.
The long version is incredibly tragic, sad and right in line with what we have been through with the K5 but on a much grander scale. So here goes:
In February of last year I bought my wife, Missy, a new to us 2015 Silverado and we promptly begin using it to tow our trailer.
We went on several camping trips last year and enjoyed the new truck immensely.
I will cut to the chase here, very tragically, my beloved Missy, wife of 14 years and mother to our 3 children passed away in October 2019. Even typing this I have tears in my eyes. It was as unbelievable then as it is now. We (the kids and I, but really everyone around me) were naturally devastated, but have slowly begun to trade grief for small amounts of joy in simple things, mostly each other's company.
To answer the inevitable questions, she perished under hospital care from a very preventable circumstance. I do not really want to go into too much detail here in the forums, but anyone is welcome to reach out to me on IG or PM here if you want to know more.
I hope that it doesn't seem cold to move onto talking about the trucks, but in reality this is part of my healing at the moment, trying to re-engage in things I loved before.
That said I had a tough choice to make regarding her truck and whether or not to keep it. I considered every option, even flipping it to completely build the K5, and I ultimately decided to hold onto it. Time will tell if that was the right choice, but if you have read this whole thread then you will know I am VERY sentimental so it was probably also the inevitable choice.
So here we are in January of 2020. I have been a forum member for almost 10 years. It's hard to believe. It feels like I have not come very far. Major parts of my life are captured in this thread and yet it is very unfinished.
I plan to do a lot of travel in the Silverado this year, I already have about 6 trips in the works. It is ambitious because I also have the goal of re-registering and inspecting the K5 this year. The absolute bare minimum required to do that would be:
- Repair rear passenger quarter damage to taillight area
- Replace passenger mirror
- Replace both front fenders
- Replace hood
- Repair front passenger indicator lights
- Replace front windshield
Probably also needed if not required:
- Replace headlight trim
- New bumpers front and rear
- New passenger door, or skin at least.
- Minor rust repair on both sides of the truck (not required but is annoying)
There is a ton of stuff I still want to do to the K5, but it's role in my life as the primary adventure vehicle has been shifted for the last 4 years. With the addition of the Silverado it's only going to be displaced to "toy" even more so.
I will NEVER sell this truck. Tides would have to turn even more than this to bring me to that. I fully intend to pass it down. I could be tempted to really build it, but it will be a few years before that. Maybe when my oldest starts driving...
A couple of photos of her that are more recent:
It is rare to get snow here these days, but we got dusted a few days ago.
She can often be seen photobombing my IG.
And some of us on our most recent trip, and our first without Mom:
And one of a tree I vandalized at that campsite years ago:
Eric + Missy indeed. I miss her dreadfully, but it amazes me how much joy I get from adventures with the kids, the truck(s) and all the gadgets and crap that goes with it. She loved this stuff too and so do the kids. So we will keep on keepin on in her honor and memory.
A very deep thank you to everyone who read all of that. Please help me keep this thread going. I'm not sure what I will talk about in the coming months but I need the motivation (and conversation) in my life right now to get this thing back on track.
)
