Mr2s and the Microcosm

It’s like seeing all of your best friends and the best friends you haven’t yet met, at the same time and in the same place.

I was on I-95 following two other friends to our annual MR2 meet. One of my (new) friends was new to this gathering of Toyota MR2 enthusiasts. ‘It’s too loud.’ I must have said it to myself at least a dozen times about my muffler on the trip. But the anticipation of getting there outweighed the noise. Part of me enjoys the cacophony of engine and exhaust noise.

Then the traffic hit just after getting onto 287 in New York. A drudgingly slow crawl to the Tappan Zee (yes, I still call it that!). A while later I realized that I had lost my partners in crime in said traffic. My exit came up and joy flooded my heart knowing I would be pulling into the Super 8 hotel in Mahwah New Jersey. Slowing for the entrance I saw the first MR2s parked near the entrance.

My friends were already there! The only explanation: Waze versus Google Maps, and Google Maps won! Sorry Waze, I won’t be using you on the way home. Pulling around back I was greeted by familiar faces and equally familiar amazing cars. The weekend had truly begun.

I had written in another post, that this is a truly amazing event that shows friendship and love transcend the anger and hatred most everywhere else in the world. I thought of finding an appropriate word and realized that the word microcosm fit well.

From Miriam Webster:

 Definition of microcosm

1: a little world especially : the human race or human nature seen as an epitome of the world or the universe

2: a community or other unity that is an epitome of a larger unity.

To think, that a shared love for a small sports car could bring such comradery and respect for others. Or, is it something greater? The love and understanding we each feel toward each other during this weekend seem to go beyond the inanimate object of MR2s. It is wonderful to witness as all of the world’s problems disappear this weekend.

There was one moment where all of this culminated in an impromptu sharing of knowledge and help when one Mr2 owner needed a repair to his clutch slave-cylinder before he could return home. It seemed everyone tried to find a way of fixing his car in the parking lot of the hotel. A fellow owner (Ian) donated a part he had won in the raffle we held earlier in the day. Tools and jacks, parts and such were quickly donated. When certain parts were the wrong fit, the parts were swapped out, and a working part was created.

At one point while watching this take place, someone brought over burgers and drinks for the master mechanics working feverishly on getting the car roadworthy again. There is actually a video of someone holding a cup of soda (or was it?) as a gentleman named Dave took a sip in between cleaning out a slave-cylinder housing for the replacement internal parts to fit. A very wonderful moment indeed!

I am forever in awe at the people who gather once a year to enjoy their shared love of this delightful car and to raise money for The American Cancer Society. Actually, this feeling seems to stretch beyond the weekend when we all have gone back to our corners of the world, to our everyday lives. The Facebook posts, messages, and pictures continue or quite a while!

Thank you to everyone who participates and to the people (Mark, Rich, Ilya, Renae and Eric, Jon, Cedric, Kenny and Simone, and others) who continue to put this event together year after year. I am forever grateful.

TheDon