Random Thoughts

I've loved watching racing since I was a little girl but there was a time when I didn't watch as avidly as I do now. So I'm thankful that I got back into watching a number of years ago and that I became a fan of Steve Park which led me to becoming a fan of Michael Waltrip. I'm thankful for the friends I've made through the forum on Michael's site, for being lucky enough to meet Michael several times, for the adventures I've had at the track and for "Michael Waltrip Out Loud" which I hope returns in 2009. I'm thankful that Michael's won two Daytona 500s and has had success on the track otherwise. I'm thankful that Michael Waltrip Racing has taken some hits but has survived and especially that Michael is going to race both Cup and Nationwide next season.

I'm thankful that back in 2004 Michael and those around him decided to raise $1 million for the Victory Junction Gang Camp via Operation Marathon because it came at a time when I was looking for a way to do something in memory of my grandmother who had passed away the year prior. My grandmother was of limited means but she was very kind-hearted and tried to do whatever she could to help others. What Michael did with Operation Marathon inspired me to organize a variety of charitable efforts over the past few years in my grandmother's name because I realized that if he could do these things even with the busy schedule he had then surely there were things that I could do.

I'm thankful that I decided to do this blog because it gives me an outlet for all the many things that I question and think about. I'm sure my husband is thankful for that too because it means that he doesn't have to spend as much time listening to me ramble on about racing, something that he has no interest in! I'm thankful for all those who have taken the time to read this blog, particularly those who are repeat visitors. As one who loves news and has many, many things I'm interested in I'm thankful for the internet in general because it allows me to read and learn about things that I might not easily find information on otherwise.

Sometimes I wish I lived in the Southwest so I could photograph all the beautiful canyons and rock formations there but then I'm thankful for living in the Northeast where it's just an hour's drive to the ocean or an even shorter trip to Manhattan. I'm thankful for all the natural wonder that I get to photograph and thankful for the internet that I can see so many beautiful photographs from talented photographers of the places I can't visit. The world is a beautiful place and I'm constantly in awe of everything around me even if it's just the sunrise on the horizon on my way to work in the morning.

There are times when I get stressed out and down, and there's things that I wish were different, but I feel lucky that I also have a lot to be thankful for!