Go, or NoGo; that was the quandary with which we struggled, during the week prior to the event!
We couldn’t decide whether we were facing “generally fair, but a chance for isolated showers”, as our ever-popular weather persons spew, when they need a catchall for uncertainty, or “profound wetness”, which seemed quite likely. In fact, I caught myself playing occasional mind games, for instance, considering at length whether, if the noun “Rain” were actually a verb i.e. “To Rain” it seemed reasonable that it would have a similar and somewhat parallel verb, “Wet” i.e. “To Wet”. Conjugation of that “verb” might go something along the lines of, I wet; you wet; he wets; she wets; we wet; you wet; they wet; I think I remember that the first “you wet” in this conjugation, is singular in form, as in, “Hey you! No not you; the tall one standing beside you… down in front!”. The second “you wet” is more of a plural thing, as in “Y’all sure love them dang ferrin cars!”. Note that nowhere in that conjugation is the form, which exists only as part of the Jamaican vernacular, “IT WET!” essentially meaning, “MON! I shoulda stayed home because this Rain seeping into my shorts, messing with stuff, and running out the other end and into my loafers, better quit damned soon!”
But I needn’t have wasted so many of those few remaining brain cells in such frivolous contemplations, because it was indeed a fine day at the appointed place of the 2018 Champagne Picnic! Not perfect by any means; clouds, therefore no sun; chilly by Jamaican standards but a piece of cake around these parts; and only one report of a bite by a determined wench skeeter, in spite of the hoards that sought to drag big people away, with no provocation, only a week earlier. Our sincere appreciation to Jerry who volunteered to visit and fog the pointy-nosed skeeter swine into submission, the day before the event.
So, absent rain and skeeters, we partied!!! The Faithful, friends every one, arrived in favorite shiny toys, and it wasn’t long before old friendships were renewed and new friendships were developed, all because of three letters… B, M & W. Funny how an assembly of metal castings, nuts, bolts, wires, increasing amounts of plastic, sumptuous leather, some rubber here and there, and glass… how could I forget the glass, can be made to have “soul”, and that “soul” can be the driving force behind lifelong friendships among precious folks. As I looked around at the happy faces of all present, from friends I had not seen for certainly 35 years, to friends who we welcomed as recent new members of Badger Bimmers, I marveled that such a diverse group could enjoy each other so much, on a damp, cold Sunday afternoon, in the middle of someone’s hayfield in southeastern Wisconsin.
The food. Oh Man… the food! This gets better every year! The conversation; finding out what makes people tick is always a delightful revelation…and there was lots of that! The eye candy; new 3s, older 3s, a trio of ‘02s including the gorgeous Bimmer in a Barn, 5er twins, X5 twins, Z and 2 series convertibles, the first i-mobile we’ve ever had the opportunity to welcome to this event, a coveted Alpina B7, two 5er wagens including one on serious steroids, Ms including a trio of M2s and a pair of sought-after e46 M3s; horsepower ratings of, oh I don’t know… maybe just north of 100 to upwards of 550? That’s a whole lot of horses to clean up after!!! But we delighted in each and every one, including the obligatory twin antique John Deere tractors.
Winners? Silly question. We all won. Such a delightful, relaxed event. But, ultimately, one toy was shinier, better presented, and was the perfect representation of who we are, given the history of the Badger Bimmers’ Champagne Picnic. The big prize went to the gorgeous Atlantik Blau, Bimmer in a Barn 2002, and her proud owners Pam and Bill Nicoud. Well deserved, kids!!! I’m still drooling….
So… how to bring this drivel to a close. Well you could start by thanking a few folks, couldn’t you? Ah yes… thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you to all who poked “weather” in the eye and set aside the time to enjoy this event… indeed some of life’s special moments; you kids are the best! Thank you to Jenny McAdow and Zimbrick BMW for the gracious gifts! We almost got to have a M5 Competition at the event, fresh off the showroom floor. But it had just been detailed and the thought of their new toy chasing around in muddy fields, driven by a bargefull of hooligans wired on champagne, nixed that possibility; maybe next year! Need a new toy? Go see Jenny!!! Thank you Badger Bimmer’s Board for your ongoing support. Finally, as before, thank you to My Navigator for humoring me once again, and taking care of all the many details.
The event is over. Another success. The blades of grass on the lawn have been coerced back into place, and the memories of a beautiful afternoon are stellar.
And silliness is still racing through my brain… a ditty from my misguided youth:
Whether the weather be fine, or whether the weather be not;
Whether the weather be cold, or whether the weather be hot;
We’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather,
Whether we like it, or not.
The best is yet to come!
