Car "Tunes"

This is a big weekend for us. My daughter just gave birth to our newest grandchild! Zachary is beautiful...of course! But this post isn't about Zachary, as big as that is. That will come later.

This weekend is also the start of the NASCAR season, and that means the Daytona 500. For my daughter's family, that is VERY big. Dave is a lifelong NASCAR fan. His family will be at the big race tomorrow. We will all be watching here. Larry and I are also fans which is a good thing for me. My 4 year-old grandson, Nicholas, keeps me at the top of my game.

Nicholas has a rug race track and more NASCAR cars than I can count. He has the miniature (matchbox sized) cars for most of the drivers in the Sprint Cup and he knows them by driver, sponsor, or number. Each year, he has to update his collection to keep up with the drivers who have changed either teams (and therefore have a new number,) or sponsors (and therefore have a new color scheme). I explain this only to help you understand the complicated conversation that follows.

Today we were waiting for Jen, Dave and Zachary's homecoming from the hospital. While we waited, my responsibility was to help Nicholas prepare for today's Nationwide race (similar drivers, but different teams and therefore different numbers). He has had a busy couple of days, and today he rode his bicycle to the park. At lunch he looked tired.

Me: After lunch I want you to take a short rest in your room, before the race.
N:   I have to set up my cars first.
Me: You can do that after your race.
N:   No. They have to be ready when the race begins. Do you know the order?
Me: No, but when the race starts we can get the line-up and line up your cars then.
N:   NO! They have to be READY when the race starts. You have to go to the computer and print it out.
Me: Oh... OK.

I get my laptop out and look up the race. Meanwhile, Nicholas has to move his cars from the kitchen to the family room. I discover this means he has to put them in the truck hauler, and drive the hauler to the rug/race track. Once there, he proceeds to get all of his cars out. I check the list on the laptop and help him line them up.

Me: Danica has the pole.
N:   The 10?
Me: No, that's for tomorrow's race. She's driving the 7 today. (We continue through the line-up.)
Me: Dale Jr. is next. (Nicholas reaches for the 88.)
Me: Dale's driving the 5.
N:   Where's Kasey Kahne? 
             (Kasey drives the 5 in the Sprint Cup, but last year it was Mark Martin. Nicholas has already made the switch.   Isn't he only 4, I wonder?)
Me: Kasey Kahne is driving the 38 in this race.
N:  I don't have a 38. We'll use this car and just pretend. (He hands me the 17.)

And so it goes. Finally...

Me: Ok. They are all lined up. You go rest and I'll call you when the race starts.
N: Ok, but you have to sing the National Anthem because I don't know all the words.

RIGHT!

The race comes on. The announcers call the race as I watch the cars go around. I listen, but it's hard to hear what's going on. Instead I hear the race going on in the room. Nicholas moves his cars around his track. Some days he is the 'Spotter' on the roof talking to the driver.  "Green! Green! Green!" (meaning Go go go!) "Outside! Outside! Outside! Down low, down low stay low!" Nicholas warns the drivers of cars coming up to pass. He pushes his cars around the track....all 30+ of them....in groups, keeping up a running dialogue.

Today he isn't the spotter. He is the In-Car camera.

"Vrooooooooom........oooooooommmmm......ooooooommmm...."

Through the entire race.....

I'm glad I have aspirin. I feel a headache coming on.

A Flicker of Light

The seed for this blog post was planted on Christmas Eve. I realize we have just celebrated Valentine's Day, but seeds take a while to germinate.

One of my favorite parts of Christmas Eve is the Candlelight service. At the end of the service all the lights are dimmed. The candle is passed from person to person lighting their candles and gradually illuminating the room. At most of the churches I've been to the congregation sings "Silent Night". It is a beautiful, peaceful way to end a service.

In spite of the fact I've gone to these all my life, I think this year was the first time I really grasped the message. As a member of the choir, I get a birds eye view of the passing of the light. I watched as the light went down each row, illuminating each person's face. As it got to the back of the room the light reached into the darkest corners. How often have I noticed that one candle might not make much difference, but a whole church full of candles lights up a room? Well, this year, I saw it from a different perspective.

I am a volunteer. It is in my DNA. I like helping where needed. I don't want compensation. I just want to make a difference. Reality reminds me I am NOT Mother Theresa, neither by circumstance, nor by personality. I am just me.

I volunteer at the Center for Hope in Ambridge. I help there because I am so impressed by the heart and the organization of the Director, Sue Otto. She's not Mother Theresa either, but she is much closer than I will ever be. Her motto is "A hand up, not a hand out". Her method is to look closely at her clients and see what they need and then try to provide it. I go one day a month, because it is a bit of a drive for me. I help out in the Food Pantry on distribution day.

Too often, lately, I have found myself wondering if I do enough. Could I do more? Where? The questions nag at my conscience. Really, volunteering one morning a month is nothing in a world where the need is great. Does it make a difference?

Christmas Eve: the room is dark. One candle is lit. The face behind it lights up. Another candle is lit. Another face lights up. One candle, plus one candle, plus one candle..... the darkest corners are lit up.

I think of Sue. She runs a center that provides education for adults, cooking classes for teens, clothes closet for those in need, tax services, assistance with electric bills, after school activities for kids.... the list goes on. She has a handful of employees. How does she do it all?

With volunteers.

One at a time.

The Missions team at my church has an unofficial slogan: Small acts can make a big Impact. I've realized it is more than just a slogan.

I don't do much, but the truth is Sue couldn't do it without 'me' and the dozens of other "me's" that show up one day a month. I'm just a little flicker of light. But my flicker...with all those other flickers... really does light up the world.

Yoga: It's Not For Sissies!

 I love my yoga class...usually. It's a great way to start the day. The stretches feel wonderful. Most of the core strengthening is empowering. And at my age, working on that flexibility is a must. But sometimes it's just a joke.

YOGA INSTRUCTOR: Such a soothing voice... the music provides a quiet, rhythmic background...

"Cross your left leg behind your right leg... Slowly lower yourself to the ground with your left leg tucked under your body, bending your right leg... Inhale slowly ...as you wrap your left arm around your right leg and hug it to your body... Right hand on your back hip... Slowly twist to the right.  Exhale gently... Extend right arm behind you, palm up. ...."

Me: You had me at "hug it to your body".

YOGA INSTRUCTOR: Always spoken in such gentle, encouraging and hopeful tones...

"Sit in an upright position, extending both legs out in front of you... Arms raised, extend your body forward. Exhale... Left hand touches your toes, as you reach your right hand under across your body under your left, hand up. Pivot your body to the left...."

HUH???

Note to self: Never play twister with a Yoga Instructor!