From the NASCAR Pits

The Talladega area was obscured in some major-league fog this morning. The backroads drive from Anniston to the track was difficult. Now, though, nature has cut all of us in the press box (it’s hard enough to see anything from here already) a break. After arriving very early in the morning, there’s a sun field that cooks the lower rows of the press box until the sun rises above the window. This morning the fog didn’t boil off until the sun was almost high enough for it not to matter. The work environment, at this moment, is thus quite pleasant.
On the down side, I’ve got crutches tucked away in the back of the press box. On the plus side, I’ve got Lyle Lovett’s new CD playing through head phones, and Natural Forces includes a song, “Sun & Moon & Stars,” that was written by my Pawlessfest chum Vince Bell. I know Vince and wife Sarah, I’ve read his book and basically profited from the fact that we have a common friend, guitar maker Vince Pawless. Vince (Bell, that is) is more a friend of a friend than an actual friend, but I think a lot of him and find his story, not to mention his songs, inspirational.
Now that the fog has lifted, it’s a glorious, cloudless day. I got a text message this morning from some hometown friends — I joined them at Darlington earlier this year, guitar in hand — who are camped out somewhere in these vast, sprawling grounds. Thanks to the now-improving-but-still-worrisome left foot, I’m not up to that this time. Lack of mobility plagues me, but probably no more than my own stubbornness over the past few weeks. I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul. The only blame for this mess is mine.
I look forward to today’s race. I’m glad not to have my foot elevated, heel on a wet-hot towel, though it probably needs to be there. I’ll get back to rehab tonight.
For now, though, my recovery is fueled by high hopes for something to write about, and in that category, Talladega seldom fails.