Okay, so I guess I better dust off my blog keyboard since I’ve been neglecting my duties as the keeper of this Kalitta chronicle. Actually, I don’t have a special blogging keyboard. I was just looking for a cheap dramatic effect…sorry. Frankly speaking, I, like most of you, have been in a haze of emotions since Eric’s death. I’ve told myself a few dozen times not to let it affect my work, but I have to admit that is has. People cope differently, and I am no exception to that. Our general manager, Jim”O”, here at the big “K” accuses me often of wearing my heart on my sleeve and tells me to thicken up my skin. I have to certain degree in the past few years, but I am who I am.
Well, I’m sure you all know we’ve a pretty tumultuous week here in beautiful Ypsilanti, where it is snowing for the second straight day after a week in the 60s! A team losing a crew chief is always difficult no matter what the circumstances are. We’re doing the only thing we can do, and that’s to move forward and learn from our successes and failures and make our race team better. Now, I’ve heard that PR spin come out of my head on more than one occasion and I’ve heard it spun from my peers, but in this instance, the change of attitude within our family here at Team Kalitta has already shown very strong signs of healing, and a new determination to win and have fun doing what we all love to do is prominent with everyone here. It’s a brave new world. My apologies to Mr. Huxley.
Case in point, our entire team went out to dinner Sunday night after the soggy festivities at HRP. It’s the first time we’ve collectively dined together in a very long time. I’ve heard for a very long time that laughter is the best medicine, and my cynical brain has always amended that tidy little cliché with, “depending on what ails you.” Sunday night I witnessed 40 ladies and gentlemen get together and smile and laugh and truly enjoy our camaraderie on both a personal and a collective level. Sure, we are all still reeling from the loss of our friend, and we’re curious about what the future holds for our race cars, but that night at the restaurant we allowed ourselves to enjoy the lives that we are all so very fortunate to live. So, I’m officially purging my pessimism and will gladly now say that laughter is indeed the best medicine, no matter what ails you.
See you at the drags!
Todd