Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Leaving Earnhardt Nation
I can’t tell you I wasn’t disappointed last week. I can’t tell you how the announcement rocked my world. I never saw it coming, and I haven’t taken it sitting down, because not too long ago Jill and I stood at Earnhardt Junior’s souvenir trailer at Talladega and purchased matching ball caps with number 8 on the front.
Jill and I were never more in love than we were at that moment. We bonded deeper into holy matrimony, as she put Earnhardt Jr.’s hat on and pulled her ponytail through the opening at the back of the hat. She was beautiful. She glowed. And next to the birth of my children, that moment when we stood at the souvenir trailer with matching hats on our heads is one of the highlights of my life.
We were in love. I actually held her hand in public, something I felt too macho to do before this moment. So, yes, I was shocked. I felt devalued as a man when Jill said she no longer felt as I did about Jr. She wasn’t disheartened about the announcement that Jr. was going over to the enemy, because this happened on Sunday. As if I wasn’t sick enough already, Jill announced that she was go over to the enemy.
Jill said, “I’m going to be a Jeff Gordon fan.”
My chin dripped to the floor. I narrowed my eyes. I said like Gary Coleman on Different Strokes, “Whatchoo talking about?”
She said, “I’m going to be a Jeff Gordon fan from now on.”
“Why in the world would you do that?” I asked.
She said, “Because he wins.”
I had no comeback for that one. She had me. Jeff Gordon has won more races than anyone this season. He can drive to Victory Lane in the dark. That’s how many times he’s been there lately.
After the race, after Jeff Gordon was blessed by God to win the rain shortened race in Pocono, during my phone call with Nana—because we talk whenever Gordon wins—And she even agreed with Nana on Sunday, during our Jeff-Gordon-wins-again-telephone-call. When Nana said of Jeff Gordon, “Well, he’s the cutest little thing on the racetrack,” Jill agreed. I declared that she was dishonorably discharged from the Red Army, from the #8 Nation.
I threw up. Then I called in sick to work.
Well, nothing much to say, other than I threw up again on Wednesday. Was physically sick all over again when Jr. crossed over to the other side and became Jeff Gordon’s teammate. He’s taken a risk. He has left the Earnhardt dynasty his father built behind.
And today, I want to talk about another rebellious kid that left the father’s dynasty and struck out on his own for greener pastures. Hopefully will discover some things about fatherhood that we haven’t known before.
12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
Today I want to discuss the making of a father. What does it take to be a good father in a world like ours? Some believe it’s a monetary responsibility. They believe a father should take care of his family’s well-being. Others believe the father should be head of the household and what he says goes, and there better not be any undisciplined action in his army-like family. Others believe you should love and support your sons and daughters, no matter what.
I guess every father wishes he had a manual to go by in raising kids.
So, the question becomes:
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Jill and I were never more in love than we were at that moment. We bonded deeper into holy matrimony, as she put Earnhardt Jr.’s hat on and pulled her ponytail through the opening at the back of the hat. She was beautiful. She glowed. And next to the birth of my children, that moment when we stood at the souvenir trailer with matching hats on our heads is one of the highlights of my life.
We were in love. I actually held her hand in public, something I felt too macho to do before this moment. So, yes, I was shocked. I felt devalued as a man when Jill said she no longer felt as I did about Jr. She wasn’t disheartened about the announcement that Jr. was going over to the enemy, because this happened on Sunday. As if I wasn’t sick enough already, Jill announced that she was go over to the enemy.
Jill said, “I’m going to be a Jeff Gordon fan.”
My chin dripped to the floor. I narrowed my eyes. I said like Gary Coleman on Different Strokes, “Whatchoo talking about?”
She said, “I’m going to be a Jeff Gordon fan from now on.”
“Why in the world would you do that?” I asked.
She said, “Because he wins.”
I had no comeback for that one. She had me. Jeff Gordon has won more races than anyone this season. He can drive to Victory Lane in the dark. That’s how many times he’s been there lately.
After the race, after Jeff Gordon was blessed by God to win the rain shortened race in Pocono, during my phone call with Nana—because we talk whenever Gordon wins—And she even agreed with Nana on Sunday, during our Jeff-Gordon-wins-again-telephone-call. When Nana said of Jeff Gordon, “Well, he’s the cutest little thing on the racetrack,” Jill agreed. I declared that she was dishonorably discharged from the Red Army, from the #8 Nation.
I threw up. Then I called in sick to work.
Well, nothing much to say, other than I threw up again on Wednesday. Was physically sick all over again when Jr. crossed over to the other side and became Jeff Gordon’s teammate. He’s taken a risk. He has left the Earnhardt dynasty his father built behind.
And today, I want to talk about another rebellious kid that left the father’s dynasty and struck out on his own for greener pastures. Hopefully will discover some things about fatherhood that we haven’t known before.
The Parable of the Lost Son11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.
12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'
20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.
24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
Today I want to discuss the making of a father. What does it take to be a good father in a world like ours? Some believe it’s a monetary responsibility. They believe a father should take care of his family’s well-being. Others believe the father should be head of the household and what he says goes, and there better not be any undisciplined action in his army-like family. Others believe you should love and support your sons and daughters, no matter what.
I guess every father wishes he had a manual to go by in raising kids.
So, the question becomes:
How do you become a good father when there's no manual?Would love to hear your answers. Post them below.
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© 2007 by Robert Stofel