As strange as it may seem, we need to let go of the sadness and
celebrate a life that touched each and every one of us in one
way or another. Earnhardt was either your favorite driver
or the "one most likely to get your boos." He showed us how
to take the air off someone's car to make it very, very loose.
He showed us how it was never his intention to wreck someone
like Terry LaBonte that time for the win but he also showed
us the pride a father has in his son and his son's accomplishments.

Earnhardt seemed to hide his good deeds, his good heart and
he wanted to be the Intimidator, the one you loved to hate at
times. He had a rough look but inside, he was nothing but
soft. You could see that in the way that he hugged his small
daughter or his wife. And he had no problem in publicly hugging
his son, something that alot of father's find very hard to do.

Earnhardt would not want all this sadness. I think he is sitting
up there looking down on all of us and saying "Stop it, stop it
now. Don't forget me but don't mourn me long either. For I
am not gone just out of your sight for now."

Last Sunday taught us all a lesson, one that I hope we remember
for a long time. None of us are immortal, not even men in black
and made of steel and iron. We are loaned to the earth for only
a short while, making the most out of it is exactly what we are
put here for.

We will long remember Dale and his racing career just like
Davey and Alan. But Dale was not just a racecar driver, he
was a father, husband, grandfather and friend. We will
miss him but he will never be gone for his memory lives on
in all of us and his family.

Celebrate your friend and his life, give thanks for having him
in your life and be assured that "in that racetrack in the sky"
we all will meet again.

Jane

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