Where Were You When?
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Note: My articles are
based solely on my thoughts and observations. Normally I do not offer
statistics, although at times I may reference what different broadcasters,
among others, have said or alluded to.
The following is a
combination of things I have written at other times to recall my memories, and
a recollection of other memories about where I was and what I was doing when
certain things happened during my life. I have included memories that are not racing
related.
On
April 1, 1993 the NASCAR racing world lost a great owner and racer, Alan
Kulwicki. Prior to the 25th anniversary
of Alan's death, articles about him started appearing on many racing sites. I,
like many other fans, read most of them. Some of us cried and some of us smiled
at times as we remembered Alan and how he accomplished something many other
independent car owners and racers had not. Most of us automatically thought and
still think of the song, "My Way" and we smile as we think how perfectly
that song fit Alan.
Shortly
after reading many articles, I
responded to the one by David Nance who is one of our writers here at RFF.
If you haven't read it already, the link will take you there.
Below
is my comment to his article:
It was hard reading
this without stopping and remembering Alan and why it was that I, along with so
many others, liked him. Misty eyes kept interfering and then memories would
creep in for a bit before I would - or could - continue. Just last night I was
thinking how one remembers where they were, who they were with and what they
were doing when they heard certain news. This is one of those remembrances.
Ever since that April 1st in 1993, I have shied away from April Fools jokes and
until this year, I have never associated April 1st with Easter. I never see a
Hooter's ad, restaurant or picture that I don't think of Alan. When I heard the
news about Alan, I was working out of town in AZ and the mail girl at the
company gave me the news. At first, I thought she was pulling an April fool’s
joke and then I saw her tears. That night, alone in a motel I watched the news
on every channel I could get. I made phone calls and reminisced alone and with
whoever I talked with on the phone. It was unreal and sometimes it still seems
that way.
After
reading my response, David suggested I do an article on the subject of where
and when memories and use my response as part of it. So, David and all others,
here it is.
A
lot of us seem to remember what we were doing and where we were when certain
events have happened during our life. Sometimes, when those events are talked
about, it takes us on a trip to another time and another place in our life. We
close our eyes and go back to those times and then our thoughts and feelings
take us on a journey. Many times they may take us on a happy journey, other
times it is a sad journey, but above all, they tend to make us realize how
fortunate we are to be able to recall those special happy or sad memories.
Living
in the Orlando area during the sixties and early seventies was an exciting
time. I lived only about 55 miles from Cape Canaveral and 60 miles from
Daytona. We not only were close to the new NASCAR world but were close to the
great new space center of NASA. That time in my life left me with some great
memories, both happy and sad.
I
was a high school student and remember the time the teachers took us students
outside to stand near the lake next to the school and having us look up into
the sky toward the East and a bit to the South so we might possibly catch a
glimpse of the trail of smoke that Freedom 7 would be leaving as America sent
our first man up into space from the Cape Canaveral launch pad. The sky was
very blue and clear and a lot of us felt as we did see the smoke trail, but
thinking back, I often wonder if we did see it or just thought and hoped we
did. It was a very exciting day and I remember the teachers gave us free rein
the rest of the day to talk together and express our thoughts and feelings
about what had just happened and how it would affect our future. I always smile
when I think about that time until...
A
few years later the smile turned to tears. I was riding in a car with 3
friends. We were stopped for a red light on Hwy 17-92 in Winter Park, FL just a
few miles from Orlando. A news flash came over the radio and we heard how 3 of
our astronauts at Cape Kennedy had perished as a flash fire swept through the
command module during a rehearsal test. We canceled our plans to eat at the
Steak and Shake we were headed for and decided not to go to the movies as planned after we heard the news. We just wanted to talk and share our feelings and then
go home to be with our families. This was a sad time during my life. Note: Cape Canaveral had been re-named Cape
Kennedy right after President Kennedy was shot, but then was later changed back
to Cape Canaveral again.
Down
that same memory lane, I recall a 19 year old me sitting on the floor of a day
care room watching television while 11 children, aged 2 through 5 were napping
on their mats after lunch. All of a sudden, a news flash broke into the regular
programming to tell us President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. My feelings
of shock and sadness still come back at times when I remember that day. America
changed after that day for a lot of us. It seemed the whole world had changed.
Another
memory comes from the racing world. While doing landscaping on a new home we
had just bought in OR, I took a break and wanted to find out what was going on
at Daytona. I went inside and turned on the television and that is when I
learned that Neil Bonnett had died during a practice crash. Neil was one of my
favorites back then. It was a very sad time for many fans and of course, his
dear friend Dale Sr. I immersed myself in yard work to keep from thinking and
crying. This type of escape is used by many people, I believe. That is because
we think if we stay busy enough, we won't have time to be sad and cry.
February
18, 2001 the Daytona 500 had the saddest ending ever. A most beloved driver,
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was involved in a last lap crash. Like many fans, I watched
the race on television. Normally, because of our time zone in the West, after a
race I set about doing other things right after it is over. However, this day I
sat with my eyes glued to the television waiting to hear anything I could about
the accident. I had an ominous feeling that all was not well. Waiting seemed to
go on and on, and on. Finally, after much time, Mike Helton came out and gave
us the sad news about the loss of Dale. A state of shock set in and for weeks,
I absorbed all news I could about Dale. For many of us, nothing has seemed
right in the world of NASCAR since that day.
Then
came September 11, 2001. While we watched in disbelief, our country was
attacked by terrorists. We all suffered during and after that time. Each of us probably
remembers where we were and what we were doing when we heard that news. I want to share what most of us think and
feel when we hear the song Alan Jackson wrote and sang. I selected one with
lyrics so you can read along and think of how important life really is.
As
I listen and read the lyrics, I can relate to the following words: "In a
crowded room, did you feel alone?" It is almost normal to feel that way
when so much sadness abounds.
There
are many more memories of this type that I recall. I remember what I was doing
and where I was when we lost Fireball Roberts, when Richard Petty got his 200th win, when
President Reagan started the Daytona 500 from Air Force One, and I even
remember where I was and when I had my first experience using a telephone.
There are so many others that are just too numerous to talk about here.
When
all is said and done, life has good and bad memories and at times it may not
seem so, but good usually prevails. And that is why I am often reminded of how
Garth Brooks sang "Looking back, I'm glad I didn't know the way it all
would end, the way it all would go. Our lives are better left to chance. I
could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance." Those
words are very profound.
And
now, I would like to ask each of you reading this to share your memories of
where you were and what you were doing during certain events that happened
during your life and how they touched your life. Each of us has something that just lingers
and lingers. Please feel free to share them, racing or otherwise, in our
comment section. Your remarks will rekindle memories for others and remember,
it is always satisfying to share thoughts and feelings with others. I only ask
you to keep it clean and no bashing, please.
Thank
you for reading and I look forward to your comments.