I'm sitting here writing this blog with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes. As you most probably know my wife Sally passed away last week after a brief illness. We were married for over 33 years, we have three great kids and I've lost my best friend, my lover and the mother of my children.
 
After the funeral the kids and I hibernated for a while to gather our thoughts and let me tell you, it was a tough weekend for all of us.
 
Death is the hardest thing anyone has to deal with and I've gone through living hell since she passed away Feb. 23rd. Since then it's been a blur and it's now time to begin the recovery process.
 
Life must go on and I went back to work on Tuesday to try to return back to normal.
 
I was greeted by a stack of sympathy cards that I received from all over the country, and the world for that matter, from friends, family and business associates which gave me a good feeling. Later that day Berserko walked into my office with a huge stack of emails, over 200 that he printed out from the link on this blog from you fans out there who offered their condolences.
 
All of us were overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy and support from the drag racing community and even though I won't be able to answer them I just want you to know how much it means to me, Rob, Sandy Ann and Jake. Thanks so much to each and every one of you.
 
In closing let me share this with you. Cherish every moment you have with your family, you never know when something like this could happen. Sally's passing was totally unexpected, we weren't prepared for it and it was a real eye-opener for all of us.
 
Thanks again for all the cards, letters and emails. I want to share this one with you readers from Dr. Phil Surface, an Orthopedic Surgeon who performed my rotator cuff surgery a few years ago and he's also a member of the NHRA medical staff. This one bought tears to my eyes, thanks my friend...
 
March 3rd 2009
 
I consider myself a friend of the Gilbertson family. For that I feel fortunate. Early in my career in drag racing, Bob and his bunch made me feel welcome any time. There never was a question considered stupid, never was there no time for any of my friends or family I dragged over for a close-up, ringside view of the inside of the world's fastest sport...
 
Through the years we have stayed in touch during the off seasons, albeit sometimes infrequently. I have been lucky through the years to get to know Bob and his family fairly well. This is how I came to know that Family is, and always has been Bob's first priority. This is how I came to know Sally. She was always smiling and pleasant to me and mine. Always.
 
The life of a spouse of someone in our sport has it's multifaceted demands. Attention, time, sleep, help around the house, help with the kids are all often subservient to the sport and the life. I see it in my own home even as peripheral as I am to the real players in drag racing. Sally always, it seemed to me, handled this with aplomb. She had the grace, kindness, and love to be supportive of the man she loved. What more needs to be said to anyone who has a first-hand knowledge of our sport?
 
I was fortunate to get to know Sally in a perhaps much different way than most. This is when I saw her truest colors. Bob has been a patient of mine. Through the years one acquires the sense of how much a loved one cares about the person whose life they have placed in my hands for surgery. You can read it in their eyes, you can tell by their body language, even the way they wait in the waiting room for me to come and explain the case to them. These all give you the innate sense of whether there is a true bond between folks. Maybe it is the gravity of these situations that bring it out in people. Maybe it makes no sense to those who haven't walked in my shoes, but I can tell you without a doubt, it is a true phenomenon. At these times, I looked through the eyes of an experienced surgeon, into the eyes of a beautiful woman who truly and deeply loved her husband.
 
What a statement that made to me! What a compliment to Bob Gilbertson and their kids! What a compliment to Sally Gilbertson!
 
May she rest in peace....May God bring comfort to your souls....
 
May we continue to be blessed by the life of Sally Gilbertson.
 
Dr. Phillip D. Surface