Kontan Jou

Jem has done it several times, but Saturday was my first time to help run golf carts at the speedway. It is a service our church provides for the race fans. The rides are free, but donations are accepted. All donations go to Speedway Children’s Charities. At first I was apprehensive. My knowledge of the speedway consists of which direction to turn in order to get home. It was the landmark of reference when we first moved here.

Rain and all, it was great fun. After signing liability away I hopped a cart with Jem so he could show me around the speedway. After pointing out necessary points of interest he turned me over to my own cart. For the most part people were really nice and thankful for the ride. Others viewed it as their personal right to be chauffeured from one gate to the other. Um…no. The goal is to choose your passengers based on visible need. Race fans come in all forms and it is amazing how many in questionable health come out for the show. For those without knowledge of the service we provide I must question their judgment. There is a LOT of walking involved at a race event. If you just had knee replacement, heart, lung, etc… surgery then why are you pushing yourself to the maximum limit?

I was only there for the afternoon shift so I missed out on the truly inebriated. The few that I did encounter were left to their own devices. I had no intention of dealing with them on my cart. The truly interesting part came when the rains did. Do you have any idea how much rain drops hurt when you are traveling in an open front cart at 10 mph? Yeah…ouch. Coming around the backstretch I thought we were going to luck out and only get the edge of the rain. I had seen it coming just a few minutes earlier, but it wasn’t raining much on the backstretch…then I turned the corner to head up the front stretch side. DOWN POUR. It went from puppies and kittens to cats and dogs. Many took shelter and many decided to head back to their camp site.

Back and forth, around and about, we drove for several hours before turning carts over to others showing up for their shift. Jem was scheduled for the late shift so we headed home to relax before he had to go back. For a first time, it was a good experience for me and one that I’m glad I signed up for. I want to be involved. I want to serve where I can…but taking the initiative to try something new is not easy. This weekend was a warm-up. Next is the big race and I’m hoping for cool and dry.

- – - Two teaching weeks remaining! – - -

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Listening to: Coldplay – Viva la Vida
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