Hi, blog fans.

I want to share some of the things I remember about Scott Kalitta. I have so many good memories of him and no bad ones at all. It is hard to put into words everything that is in my mind, but the first thing that comes to mind is thank you. Thank you for making BRAKES a benefactor named in lieu of flowers. You don’t know how much that means to me, and I am sure that BRAKES will be able to make a difference in saving some of our kids.

I talked to Scott not long ago about going on a scuba dive with him. He was going to teach me how to dive. Now I will not be able to go and do this with Scott, but I know I will learn to scuba dive, and Scott’s spirit will be with me, teaching me how.

I am going to miss Scott, and everyone at Kalitta’s are people I consider true friends to me at the races. Connie has been a friend and someone I have looked up to for a long time, and I think he knows that. Doug has been a friend and one of the guys I always root for if I can’t win a race. Dave has been my pal for years, Hillary and I have gotten to know each other a little better over the past few months, and Jim O. and Jon O. are great. Rick Fisher, what can I say about him? The Cowboys, and the list goes on and on.

Even as I mourn the loss of my friend, I want to share some other things with you. I went to the beach with Jessie over Father’s Day weekend, and we went on a really fun fishing trip. Jessie caught a bunch of fish while we were out on the boat, and Ginger got really sick. I hope she doesn’t read this, but Jessie and I thought it was a little funny.

My sister Heather came to visit and went to the beach with us, and we got to meet my new nephew and Jessie’s new cousin, Andrew, for the first time. Heather and Mike did a pretty good job with this little guy, and I’m sure his Uncle Doug will be able to teach him a thing or two.

We are headed off to Norwalk tomorrow and plan to work in a little trip to Cedar Point for Jessie before we go to Scott’s memorial service. I want the Kalittas to know I am here, and that their friendship means a lot to me. I am sure that Scott will be teaching my boys Jon and James a thing or two, and they will be waiting for all of us in a place I am sure must be better than where we are now. That is the only thing that seems to get me through each day, believing they must be in a better place.

Doug