Nice Email

Last month I received a very nice email out of the blue, from a guy in Chile. I thought it was cool enough that I should share it. The subject was “Your jeep inspired me!”

“This may sound weird to you, but a picture I saw on your webpage inspired me to buy a green TJ just like yours. My name is Thomas, and I am from Santiago, Chile. A few years ago I was involved in a serious car wreck and pulverized my right leg. While I was at home recovering from surgery I was surfing google images when I saw the picture “58960*” (http://www.brnav.com/jeep/58960*.jpg). I was amazed at how badass that lifted TJ looked with the doors fully opened. At that moment that picture became my wallpaper for the next 6 months. The minute i got paid from the insurance company i started looking for a green TJ, since Wrangler’s are not that demanded here in Chile i had to wait a few months until the perfect one surfaced a low mile 1999 Green Wrangler.

Thanks for indirectly helping me make the best decision in my life :D!

Best regards!

Thomas S.”

That email made my day. And not just because someone thought my Jeep looks cool, although I did appreciate that as well.

Someone once said “It’s hard to share one’s enthusiasms,” and I’ve found that to be true. No matter how psyched I was about finding the Mauna Kea peak benchmark (almost off the charts), it’s not something most people understand. My wife recognized my enthusiasm, but she certainly didn’t share it. When Formula 1 cars race through the streets of Monaco, it strikes a chord deep within me that most people just don’t appreciate the same way. And that’s OK, it’s totally normal.

We all have things that capture our imagination or kindle a particular passion. The thing in the email from Thomas that I liked best was the mutual enthusiasm. He’d seen my Jeep and thought, “Yes, that’s exactly what I want,” while I’d read his email and thought “Yes, I totally, completely understand that feeling and enthusiasm.” Instant connection with a total stranger, several thousand miles away. I think that’s a pretty cool thing.

I’d like to thank Thomas for making the effort to send a me that email, which as I said totally made my day. I hope his leg heals up fully, and that he and his new Jeep can avoid any more accidents. Most of all, I wish his enthusiasm a long and robust life, and hope it will in turn spark similar passions in others.