Epilogue – part 2 of 2
And now… a few trivia questions:
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Q: Hardest place to find? A: Jeff Green in Madison, VA (@Wolftownjeff)
Thanks to Google Maps, it wasn’t that difficult to find Jeff’s majestic Virginia homestead. It did serve as a significant milestone, however, because it was the point where my physical body was beginning to complain: “Are we really going to do ANOTHER 12-14 hour working day on our feet?”
The tour took on a whole new dimension from this point onward. Had I bitten off more than I could chew? Probably. It was a challenge to manage my resources and push ahead regardless.
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Q: Sweetest dog? A: Daisy – at Bryan’s place in Andover, CT (@1974DeltaQueen)
I made dozens of dog-friends on the tour but Daisy was my favorite. At first she was a spastic barking mess barely restrained on a leash. But after a while she became extremely friendly and constantly gave me the moony-love eyes. Bryan said she was looking for me after I left… awwwwww.
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Q: Sweetest cat? A: Missy – at Orin’s place in Durham, NC (@Lobster)
Lots of friendly kittens on the tour but Missy was the best. I could barely spend a minute alone without this talkative and affectionate fluff ball hypnotizing me into staying just a bit longer.
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Q: Best meal? A: Sorry… can’t pick one. Food and drink with my pinball chums and their families was the best part of the trip. Too many good moments breaking bread and laughing together with wine to rank them in any meaningful order. Yes, even Matt’s signature “weiners and coffee milk” with the family was a memorable treat.
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Q: Favorite restaurant? A: The Bavarian Chef with Jeff Green. Loved it. The spectacular yet humble old-world house with creaky wood, dim lighting, unobtrusive music, experienced waitstaff, numerous Belgian/German beer taps, and delicious food made quite an impact and reminded me of my childhood home.
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Q: Toughest fix? A: Bill Hanson’s Spirit of ’76. It fought me all the way through. Every time I fixed something, another issue revealed itself… intermittently. Then another. But it was whipped into shape during the final hours, if only just. Ah, Gottlieb. *sigh*
Q: Easiest fix? A: Again, Bill Hanson’s place… The Hobbit. A single rollover switch was misaligned. *poof*… all done.
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Q: Coolest machine worked on? A: Orin Day’s Shuffle Pool. Part puck-bowler, part billiards, part hologram!
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Q: Any favorite new games? A: I learned I am primarily a fan of multiplayer EM’s. Multiplayer EM’s are the most social of all. Each player only gets one ball before rubbing elbows with another. Everyone stays engaged because there is so little time in between to check cell phones or become distracted. Whereas taking turns on a single-player EM requires everyone to wait until the whole game ends.
Oftentimes, “carryover features” are touted as proof of single-player EM superiority over multiplayers. While there can be some truth to this, I find it grossly overstated in terms of what makes a game fun (and whom with!). Furthermore, some multiplayers do have carryover features of their own.
Of the top 10 games in my personal collection, 7 of them are multiplayers. I’ve got 21 games on my want list and only 6 are single-players. So, if you are a person who enjoys the social aspect of pinball as much as the gameplay, better give those multiplayers a second look!
Q: *AHEM* so which were the favorites?
EM: 8-Ball, Aztec, Beach Queens, Big Day, Captain Card, Diamond Jack, Expo, Gulfstream, Little Joe, Lucky Hand, Nags, See Saw, Skylab, Solids N’ Stripes, Space Odyssey, Wizard!, and The Wiggler
SS: Baby Pac-Man, Hardbody, Laser War, Lord of the Rings, and Total Nuclear Annihilation (watch out for this one!)
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Q: Why EM’s?
A: EM’s from the 60’s and 70’s represent the most essential form of pinball. It was a time when artwork, sounds, and mechanics all came together in a golden age of geometry and challenge.
I like all eras of pinball but EM’s deliver the core of what is best about the game. And they’re the most fun to work on! Oftentimes people enjoy rebuilding them as much (or more!) than playing the game!
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Q: Anything you would have done differently?
A: Hoo boy… this invites a whole ‘nother discussion. Yes, the main thing would be padding the journey with longer overlaps between stops. REGION 2 – East/Northeast Coast was just crazy-intense. Non-stop visits all the way up the coastline with hardly a break. By the time I reached my buddy Ryan in Lansing, I was so worn out I almost had a panic attack! Luckily I found my second wind after some tasty artichokes and Ethiopian food (and two nights of 12-hour sleep!).
Q: Would you do it again?
A: Ah, the big question. Yes and no.
I enjoy traveling, sharing knowledge, meeting new people, and fixing/playing pinball. I don’t think that will change. My interest in EM’s is here to stay for good… so why not keep it rolling?
However, whatever comes next won’t be quite the same. It can’t be. What I accomplished here was a little crazy in terms of scope and physical demands. I can’t possibly repeat it again. The planning stages alone took weeks!
NNAPT was not a business or a job… it was an adventure. Like a modern-day Johnny Appleseed spreading the EM-knowledge and returning years later to a forest of sparkling EM’s (one can hope, eh?). Financially, I didn’t quite break even. But that wasn’t the point. It wasn’t about the money, it was about the experience. And I’m unquestionably richer and happier for it.
I’ve made mention of an “encore tour” to accommodate those who weren’t able to participate… but it won’t be like what we’ve done here. Less adventure, more business kind of thing.
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Q: Time to fade out... any final words?
NNAPT was a product of opportunity, passion, good timing, and a willingness to share. This was not a job; it was a collaborative adventure among fun-loving peers. Every one of whom has a stubborn sense of individuality to be admired. Pinball people are awesome!
I had an incredible time seeing the country and meeting so many of you in person. It will take time, perhaps years, to put everything I’ve seen and done into perspective.
I learned that a person’s home is a major influence upon their outlook and sense of self-expression. Who you are is, at least in part, a reflection of where you live. More than one may think.
I’ve lived in Dallas all of my life but have often felt it wasn’t quite the right place for me. People constantly remark that I don’t sound or seem like “a Texan”… which I’m not sure how to take. I know plenty of Texans who are absolutely wonderful people and good friends of mine. But after visiting the rest of the country (and Canada) firsthand, it is clear that this little fish has been swimming upstream for a long time… and it is time to go.
Finn Murphy, a truck driver and writer of the book “The Long Haul”, has a business moving families across the country. He’s an eloquent guy who has a good amount of insight into the lives of others. During a recent interview, he was asked where “home” is. To paraphrase:
“Home is where you’re safe. Not in the immediate sense of freedom from danger or outside interference, but rather where your mind and soul are safe. Where you can breathe and “just be”.
This is why so many people can’t find their home after moving from one big house to another big house across the country… because it doesn’t provide that “safety” regardless of the opulence inside.”
As a culture, we are overwhelmed with distraction and stimulation. We have dessert disguised as breakfast, our TV news is sensationalist low-quality information, our web browsers are full of voices and videos which should never have been given a microphone, 3,000 people a day are injured in auto accidents due to technological distraction, memes have replaced knowledge, and politics have replaced fellowship.
The only way to escape to a more authentic life is to slow down, disconnect from the cultural baggage and constant bombardment of lies, and get in touch with nature, health, fellowship with others, and reality… and build anew from there. Which often takes a lifetime.
It was a letdown returning to Texas just in time for our Senate to pass the idiotic “bathroom bill” which helps no one. It was a stark contrast to the abundance of rainbow flags I found in Canada during June (Pride month) and people of so many mixed religions and origins coexisting peacefully. Up there, diversity and acceptance isn’t a mere talking point or something to "tolerate", it’s just how it is... and it’s no big deal! Live and let live, right? That’s the kind of America I was raised to believe in… not this wave of repressive Puritanical anger shutting down the most vulnerable among us. This “culture of denial” and "tyranny of the majority" is to be feared. It is the enemy of true liberty. And sadly, despite having a number of fine people here, Texas is currently under its thrall.
I have decided to relocate to the Pacific Northwest or somewhere along the west coast. Pinball is big up there and so are the progressive attitudes. It is the place where I felt the most “home” in terms of who I am today and what I have to offer.
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And so, the adventure will continue. Thank YOU for coming along and enjoying the ride with me. May "Team EM" live long and prosper.
Roanoke, VA
Leduc, AB
