Weekend Update

I’m Chevy Chase. And you’re not.

This has been an intense, fun, exciting weekend for me.

Arie, one of my best friends from college, was in town this weekend (actually he was here all week, but he didn’t tell me that) for the SCCA Nationals, and what is to be his last race for long time.

One reason for leaving the track, is to save up money for a diamond ring. His air-dam on his DSP Capri held the words, “Emma, will you marry me?”. His owner/mechanic actually traded out the air-dam every time Arie traded driving with his co-driver, Neal. We took lots of pictures with it on the car, which he will give to her later this year, once he has the ring.

The other, more important reason, if not more imperative, is so he can spend more time at church. Two years ago, Arie committed his life to Christ. In his own words, he’s “born again”. To see him, to my eyes, not a lot has changed. He’s always been a personally humble, loveable teddy-bear kind of guy. He knew how to brag and put on a good show, but his true spirit was always one of peace and comfort.

Now however, the bragging side of him is something he holds far at bay. Even if this was the only difference, the only visible manifestation of what he experienced, it is more than enough what goes on inside: he is remoulding himself into the image of Christ.

And I am proud of him, and praise God for the salvation of my friend, and the profound and awesome turning in his life. I love him, and I am glad he has found his way.

I wish this for other friends. I pray this for other friends…

Also, last Friday, out of the blue, another college classmate, Marcia, emailed. She found my name at random on Classmates.com, and dropped me a line, offering that I should come visit her and husband Michael out in St. Louis. I emailed back with a counter offer, that she should come out this week and see Arie’s last race.

She did.

She arrived Thursday, just in time to join Arie and his crew and friends for dinner at Pat’s Pig. He was completely speechless as she snuck in behind him and gave him a hug.

I showed her where my office was as we drove our vehicles back to my place. We stayed up until 4 in the morning talking about old times, and catching each other up on 12 years of our lives. I gave her a nickle tour, set up the sofa, and set out a key.

She came by my office next morning, shortly before we were due out at the track, and she gave me another designer’s input on a project at hand. I had taken 2 half-days vacation to spend out at the track while Arie’s group raced. I had promised Anna (Neal’s girlfriend) that Marcia would make a good “shopping mate” for the times that the men where busy working the race or working at the paddock. She was. They went antiquing after the race, and I went back to work, after a short nap in my car.

Later Friday evening was the awards banquet, and Arie managed to get Marcia and I tickets. It was great catered food, and we got to cheer for Arie and the other racers as they claimed their awards.

Arie took a very fast second in his class. As he accepted his award, his co-driver and his owner/mechanic came on stage, and presented him with the custom air-dam. For this, Arie gave a brief speech: first thanking God for everything, then warning the audience that the wedding proposal was a secret for at least a few more months. I got to video tape the whole thing for him.

I stepped out afterwards to call my Nightingale. We spoke until my group was ready to leave the awards, then we all went to Sonic to eat cheddarpoppers and fun-colored drinks. We said our goodbyes, as Arie and team would be leaving early Saturday morning. Marcia and I had developed our own bonds with his teammates, and I was suprised at just how strong of bonds they were.

Marcia and I went straight back to my apartment where we quickly greeted our beds and tried to get back some of the sleep we lost from the night before.

Next morning, we headed out early to help work a bike tour. We arrived at the Lake to find our help unnecessary. We drove one circuit of Sweep for the tour, then left for my next appointment: I had a Board meeting out at the Land. We arrived just a little early, and after getting undressed, I showed Marcia the property and introduced her to a few others, then took off for the meeting. We finished up in under 2 hours – which is really good for us – and then Marcia and I decided not to stay around for now, but instead to come back for the sauna later in the evening.

She then offered to take me out to eat at someplace I would consider fancy or special. I chose Timberline, and ordered the ribeye, plus we had peel-n-eat shrimp and a bloomin onion. We made great table talk, had an excellent server (Kim), and I was stuffed.

(con’t)