Moment with Mike: The Meaning of Life

0 Oct. 2, 2012, 7:07 a.m.

Main Photo: Moment with Mike: The Meaning of Life

10/2/2012
By Mike Garrison
LiveRC.com

Yesterday evening I was sitting with my parents eating dinner at a local BBQ restaurant. As we were finishing up eating and laughing about who knows what I received a text message. I looked down at my phone and I saw that it was from a fellow racer and I expected to read something along the lines of, "Show up this weekend, IF your brave enough to race me!", but instead it was message that I sat silenty and read over and over in disbelief.

A local young racer's father, who supported his son day after day racing and a friend to everyone, had passed away due to illness.

As I looked up from my phone to tell my parents the news, I realized more than ever that we often take the little things in life for granted and don't know what we have until it is gone. Normally I would think of our evening out as just another dinner at a so-so BBQ place with my old folks. My dad carrying on and on about politics or the bad economy, probably leading into a story about how the BBQ sauce was too spicy, and my mom smiling and telling stories from her workday while spilling homemade beans across the table. All of this taking place while I zone out and focus on my turkey platter and cole slaw.

This dinner was different, as I couldn't help but think of not only the loss of a friend, but his son as well. Suddenly it occured to me that dad's political rants and BBQ sauce sweats weren't so irritating anymore, and mom's flying bowl of beans was actually quite comical instead of being so embarassing.

In life we often get consumed in chasing the race wins, chasing the promotions at work, chasing our own dreams and goals all while pushing the little things aside.

Dinner with the family isn't JUST dinner with the family, in all reality it is a moment in time that someday will mean more than winning any race, will mean more than earning any amount of money, and will mean more than we can ever imagine someday when it's gone.

On a daily basis it seems as though someone you know, whether they are close friends or distant acquantances, are taken from this world in an instant. In R/C you get 3 qualifiers and the A-main, in life you get one A-main. The length of your A-main is unknown and what place you finish in the end is irrelevant. What matters is that through all of the pit stops, dumb mistakes, crashes, fast laps and big air you step back and realize that no matter what your situation is, cherish what you have both big and small because life may be short, but life is good.

Rest in peace Hoot...