No Petit Jean this year

[AR Dave]

Hey friends, I'm sorry to say that Traci and I (really all Traci) aren't going to throw a formal Petit Jean Fly-in this year. Tryston (our 20yr old) is getting married this summer and so apparently that's going to be where our attention is directed. I havn't checked lately but the airport has been shut down for some time while they install lights on the runway. I am wondering when someone is going to fly in and check out the Rockefellar Resort we discovered last year. If someone were to do that, I'd like for you to go when I'm home so that I could visit with you (leave Traci with the wedding planning). Gar, all the Petit Jean supply's and equipment are organized and shelved just like you told me to do, but I'm thinking about eating the leftover's. Pokey, I got your message on the way to Alaska.

[jrenwick]

Hi Dave,

Congratulations on getting one married off!!! I just want to say thanks again to you and Traci for throwing this awesome party in previous years. I feel lucky to have been able to get to it twice.

It sounds like Duluth may be out of the question for you, but if not, I hope we can see you there!

Best Regards,

John

[4583C]

Dave
Remember a few months ago you were asking questions about retirement. With TWO daughters you might need to work a little longer! We went thru two weddings and a high school graduation in three months in 06 and I'm not fully recovered yet! Thankfully we were parents of the groom in the two weddings and I will probably be too old too pay attention or the bills by the time Megan finds someone who will put up with her on a permanent basis!

[Kyle Wolfe]

Dave and Traci, glad for you sad for us

Now I won't feel guilty when I tell Becky that I'm applying for turkey permits in other states this spring!

Becky and I are thinking of throwing a weekend fly-in wing ding at our place just prior to the Duluth convention on June 20-21 (shhh! it's still a secret!) Maybe that's a way we can get you guys to MN!

[AR Dave]

Two daughters and a son, who's only 13 now. What the heck with the cost of weddings these days? We are having issues about this - REAL ISSUES! Then the 2nd daughter graduates next year. But the son, who's 13, and already 6'1" / 200 lbs, with a 14" foot, is eating us out of house and home. We're planning a cattle drive next month, so he won't starve. Kyle, you can shoot one of our Turkey's if you want to come down, but it might not be as much of a challenge as you're used too. Now that the stock market has crashed, we can just delete my curiosity about retirement a few months back.

We're not abandoning the Fly-in's permanently - just a pause - someday things will slowdown - right?

[170C]

Dave & Traci---congratulations on the upcoming wedding. That is an important time in a families life, especially for the bride and mother of the bride. I assume you couldn't hand her some $$ to elope Now don't you tell Traci I said that, I don't want to endure the mother of the bride's wrath at such a suggestion Sorry we won't have the Petit Jean gathering this year, but under the circumstances it is understandable and you and Traci probably need a break anyway. We'll hope for 2010. Who knows, someone might put together a flyin and use the Rockerfeller facilities we visited last year. (Come on some of you good organizers, how about it?) Retirement---------well Dave, there are a bunch of us who will have to put that off for longer than we had hoped. I would say for longer than we had planned, but had we "planned" we wouldn't be in this fix with our 401k's. Just have to keep working a while longer. At least you are young enough to hang in there long enough for things to get back to where they need to be. Some of us more senior citizens may not have the needed time for that to develop. Maybe I will just ask George's new president for a bailout. There doesn't seem to be any criteria for getting one these days (Oh shoot, we aren't supposed to get political on this forum are we )

[GAHorn]

Ha! The problem isn't our future prez...it's our current one. According to J. Kelso, G.W. has kept his campaign promise to be a "uniter".... Everyone's united that the economy is in the toilet.
RE: your restricted airspace question: The only protected airspace G.W. is likely to get in the future is between his ears.

[mike roe]

Ha! The problem isn't our future prez...it's our current one
Will you say the same thing in 4 years!

[170C]

George, I'm encouraged to see that you aren't asleep and that you haven't mellowed any yet Hang in there bud

[GAHorn]

Ha! The problem isn't our future prez...it's our current one
Will you say the same thing in 4 years!

I'm sure there'll be things he'll do that'll deserve criticism, but I've never before witnessed this situation where folks won't even wait until the man even takes office to lay blame upon him.

In an obverse view, over New Year's, while visiting Ol'GAr in LA, I was told (ironically, by a WalMart manager) that "a president's effect on the economy doesn't occur for 8 years" (how convenient for Bush-lovers, I thought) ...he cont'd... "Everyone wants to blame Bush when this is all really Clinton!"

This country is as fanatically divided as it was in the mid-1800's.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand."

Outside forces will not cause the collapse of the U.S. It will be from within, and it'll be our own damn fault, and we're witnessing it right now. Our grandchildren will not have the lifestyle we have enjoyed because of our own greed and hate.

This thread shouldn't be hijacked like this. This should be a sweet celebration of Traci and Tryston spending Dave's money at a wedding! Ha! Congratulations to the Lasiters!

[SteveF]

Congratulations to Dave and Traci !

If Traci plans the wedding half as well as she does with Petit Jean the wedding will be a real blast!!!

I had such a great time last year at Petit Jean that I have been agonizing over going again this year or financially waiting for next year. This makes the decision much easier.

Maybe I will pitch my tent under some tall pines at my local field, play some blue grass music, and drink a six pack of St. Polly Girl as a poor substitute though nothing can replace the great food, comradeship, and fine scenery you have provided.

Have a great wedding and hopefully you and Gar will get the hankering for another Petit Jean in future.

SteveF

[flyguy]

- - - I am wondering when someone is going to fly in and check out the Rockefellar Resort we discovered last year. If someone were to do that, I'd like for you to go when I'm home so that I could visit with you

Let us know about wedding details - - date -where etc. etc. If we can make it up for the wedding, maybe you and I can slip up there and check it out.

[N2868C]

I'm really happy for Dave and Traci. They have definitely gone the extra mile for these events at Petit Jean, however this wedding is probably one of the most important functions in their family life. For that: Congrats!!

Personally, I will miss the opportunity for this wonderful fly-in, 170 camaraderie, and camping event. Has anyone considered trying to get a small gathering of 170's at Petit Jean this year, even though our gracious hosts are totally committed to family affairs? I know that we couldn't pull off such a successful event, as they have in the past. But surely we could make a reasonable showing, in their honor, and continue this wonderful tradition.

Just a thought. The weekend that fits the mold of last year would be, Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25. It would certainly take some camp site reservation commitments, in order to reserve the area; that is if it isn't too late already.

Any support of the thought, please post. Otherwise, my apologies for the intrusion. Also, if this idea has been brought up and I missed it, just let me know.

!70 Folks are the best.

Tom