the indy 500 (part two)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I’m back at home after an awesome trip.  I stopped by and spent some time with my parents in TN on the way to and from Indianapolis.  While in Indy I was able to visit some friends I haven’t seen in a while.  It was great to catch up.  As I said in an earlier post, true friendship is priceless and I’m grateful for the friends in my life.

This was my 3rd Indy 500 in 4 years and I’m hoping to make it a yearly tradition.  The weather was perfect, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) was packed, and the race was full of excitement and surprises, as always.

There’s a reason why the “500″ is “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and “the largest single-day sporting event in the world (270,000 in attendance annually). Well, there are many reasons, actually.  The “500″ is indeed a race unto itself.  There is no other race in the world like it.  As I said in my other post about the race, it truly is racing’s crown jewel.  If you win the Indy 500, you’ve made it in racing.  There is a hundred years worth of tradition at the IMS, including the drinking of milk by the race winner.  The Indy 500 is a month-long affair involving time trials, qualifying, carb day, the Indy 500 parade, among other events.

As I mentioned in my other post about the 500, even if you don’t like racing, there’s just something about being there.  It gets into your blood.  Hearing Jim Nabors sing “Back Home Again In Indiana,” watching F-16s and F-18s fly right over your head right on cue at the end of “The Star Spangled Banner,” and hearing Mari Hulman George shout, “Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!” is just the beginning of the excitement.  The real excitement comes when after 2 warm-up laps, the field gets the green flag and all 33 cars come roaring down the track at full speed.  Wow!

To say the least, I’m glad I was able to go again this year and I look forward to many more.

the indy 500

 

 

 

 

 

I lived in Indianapolis for almost 3 years serving as a worship leader there and I quickly became a Colts fan and an Indy Racing League fan.  While living there I had the opportunity to attend the Indy 500 twice.  The 500 is the single largest attended sporting event in the world and is racing’s crown jewel.  Even if you’re not a racing fan, actually being there at the speedway just does something to you.  There’s basically a century of history there and tons of pride in the city.  I love it.  

Thanks to some great friends in Indy, I’ll be seated in turn 4 this Sunday watching the field of 33 Honda V8-powered Indycars come roaring down the track yet again.  I can’t wait!  I also look forward to catching up with some friends I haven’t seen in a while.  It’s gonna be a great weekend!

andy mckee

I recently had the chance to visit my good friends from college Dr. Eric and Julie Duncan and their sons Paul and Will.  Eric and I have been friends for 15 or 16 years now, going all the way back to our trip to Russia with the Lee Singers in May of ‘92.  Eric introduced me to some great music in college, including Bela Fleck and The Flecktones.  Eric is himself a talented guitarist and bassist and the other day he introduced me to Andy McKee.  Andy is an acoustic guitar marvel in the vein of Michael Hedges.  He is unbelievable.  The musicality of all he does with an acoustic guitar is unreal.  I won’t even get into the harp guitar.  His song “Drifting” has had well over 13 million views on You Tube.  If you are already aware of him, I don’t need to say anymore.  If you haven’t – assuming you do like good music – then run, don’t walk and simply You Tube Andy McKee  and thank me later.

i am rich!

No, I didn’t win the lottery…haven’t even played it.  I’m talking about family and friends here.  My life is rich because of them.  Over the past several months, I’ve gone through the toughest time of my entire life and my family and friends have been there through it all.  I just wanted to take a moment to recognize them and say thanks.  

I’ve been blessed with the most loving, supportive and encouraging parents in the entire world.  They raised me to be the man I am today.  They instilled in me a love for and faith in God that cannot be shaken, which is really what has gotten me through the past several months.

My life is rich with the most awesome friends in the entire world.  I’m thankful that I still stay in touch with a bunch of my college buddies and my work in ministry has taken me to several places where I’ve formed lasting friendships with some wonderful people.  I’m thankful I can pick up the phone at any time, call any of these folks…even if it’s been a long time…and pick right up where we left off.  It’s great to know the door’s always open.

You can’t buy friendship.  True friendship is priceless.  And, it’s one of the greatest treasures in life.  So, to Mom and Dad and all my friends out there…thank you.  Thanks for being there.  I love all of you.