WILLS SAINTE CLAIR
Today, I was honored to be part of a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. My good friend and Masonic brother, Bill Mason, celebrated his 100th birthday. His son and daughter hosted the party at Michigan State University's (MSU) Kellogg Center. We commenced with introductions, a power point presentation of a century of pictures. Then a banquet luncheon. The surprise for Bill - and all the rest of us too- was a grand finale.
Bill belongs to an old car club. Years ago, he had purchased a 1926 Will Sainte Clair automobile. The man who designed the car and started the company was Mr. Wills Sainte Clair. Later, Bill sold his treasure, and his wife invested the grub stake to send both kids to college. Well, today that very car returned into Bill's life for a while.
The curator of the museum where it is on exhibit trucked the car to East Lansing, and positioned it in front of the Kellogg Center. After lunch, Bill was taken outside to rendezvous again with "his car". He was helped into the seat, and taken for a short ride on the beautiful MSU campus. Bill's grin said it all. Here was a truly happy man!
Happily, we all realized what was happening right there in front of us. Sadly, we also realized that there is only a scant probability of seeing its like again in our lives - ever. Carpe diem!
Today, I was honored to be part of a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. My good friend and Masonic brother, Bill Mason, celebrated his 100th birthday. His son and daughter hosted the party at Michigan State University's (MSU) Kellogg Center. We commenced with introductions, a power point presentation of a century of pictures. Then a banquet luncheon. The surprise for Bill - and all the rest of us too- was a grand finale.
Bill belongs to an old car club. Years ago, he had purchased a 1926 Will Sainte Clair automobile. The man who designed the car and started the company was Mr. Wills Sainte Clair. Later, Bill sold his treasure, and his wife invested the grub stake to send both kids to college. Well, today that very car returned into Bill's life for a while.
The curator of the museum where it is on exhibit trucked the car to East Lansing, and positioned it in front of the Kellogg Center. After lunch, Bill was taken outside to rendezvous again with "his car". He was helped into the seat, and taken for a short ride on the beautiful MSU campus. Bill's grin said it all. Here was a truly happy man!
Happily, we all realized what was happening right there in front of us. Sadly, we also realized that there is only a scant probability of seeing its like again in our lives - ever. Carpe diem!