A lot has already been said on this thread about the 'banned or not banned' deal, so I just want to say this:

There ain't nobody nicer, kinder, gentle(r), and polite(r) than Rob. He was at my home several times last year working on a pin for me and had it been someone else, I think they would have exploded and thrown my pin in the river because how it would be 'fixed' and then it would 'unfix' itself in minutes! He had a lot of patience and I just can't imagine anyone telling him he is not welcome to come back ANYWHERE!

Rob, you are the greatest! (Well . . . next to LTG.) Taro, you didn't say much to me. WTF?

Rob, our old Yellow Lab (Murel) died a few months after you left. A sad day . . . as I'm sure you can understand. He was SO sick those last few weeks, but on his last night, he ambled over to my bed, as was his habit, to tell me 'Good Night', and I patted his head like I always did and then he ambled back over to his bed. Every night, he did this ritual at 10:30. He looked at me for a much longer time that night as if he was trying to tell me something. I can still see those big brown eyes sending 'love' to me. He died during the night. He's buried out in the back yard with a head stone.

Be safe in your travels. A LOT of people rely on you, and you make things 'glow' (literally!) when you are with people. It hurt me to know you went through this ordeal.
Mike in Kentucky

I have 4 grandchildren, ages 8, 7, 6 and 5. They ALL love my pins! In fact, the 7 year old boy is an excellent player . . . better than adults who visit here . . . and he is beginning to help me make repairs and UNDERSTAND the workings of a pin. He just doesn't flail balls, he's a competitive player. He's gaining knowledge and I'm sure someday he will inherit my pins and keep them going. In fact, he gets VERY upset if I sell a pin and is always looking at pinball websites with me asking me "Get this one! We need this one Papa!!! Doesn't it look like a lot of fun?!" I'm sure a lot of kids have no interest in them, but at least with my bunch, the 'addiction' has rooted and I'm positive they will not let the pins die around here.

On a funny note . . . having read some comments about guys working with their fathers . . . mine was an expert in just about anything concerning building and repairing. He was an electrician, a plumber, a 'furnace man' and worked on cars. When I was young and 'helped' him, I was just mostly in his way. I got to hold the flashlight or go get a tool. It was all boring to me. I remember him saying over and over, "You need to pay attention because some day I won't be around to fix all your stuff. Learn it NOW so you can do it yourself later on." Well, he has been dead about 10 years and those words echo in my head all the time. Yeah, I can fix most things, but he was SO right. I now have to PAY people to come and fix various things around my home or my cars that are over my head. My dad NEVER would pay someone else to fix something. By the looks of what I have read on here tonight, a whole bunch of us have been down this road! Ha.
Mike in Kentucky

Excellent commentary! You hit it on the head!

I DID learn a lot about electricity from my father. I wired my own house. My usual operational mode is, wire it up and if it doesn't shock the piss out of me or fire doesn't fly, then I must have it right!
Mike in Kentucky