Thirty Years

January 9, 1993

On January 9, 1993, at 20 years old, I said “I do,” to the man I had been in love for six years. He was 23. We were young, naïve, inexperienced, and a bit crazy, but we knew our hearts. We wanted to embark on our married life together.

Thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. Thirty years that produced three wonderful children. There were endless diaper changes, countless tears, temper tantrums, health scares, life-altering decisions, and love.

Always love.

During these thirty years I’ve acquired wisdom. Although far from “perfect”, we are still happily married. We have faced proverbial Giants, Dragons, and Pandemics and we are still together.

We’ve had doubts, droughts, floods, disappointments, setbacks, and famine, yet we always loved one another.

Always.

Raising children has been richly rewarding and God’s greatest blessing on us. Yet, children are depleting to a romantic relationship. We had to learn to navigate Parenthood without sacrificing Couplehood.

Our three children
December 24, 2022

We chose love.

Always.

We don’t always agree and at times have grown apart. Then, because we love – and like – one another, we find our way back. We choose to stay in love – and together.

Always.

I offer some wisdom to share. Take what works for you.

We are Human.

We are fallible, but we choose love.

Always.

Thirty Years of Married Wisdom

1.       Put the Couple first, above children, above self. The Couple is sacred.

2.       Be an individual. To bring the best to the couple you must live your life. Experience, explore, create, interact. Every day you will have something new to share with your spouse.

3.       Find time for intimacy throughout the days, weeks, months, and years. Intimacy is not solely sex. It’s emotional, it’s physical. It’s trust, comfort, and relaxation with your spouse. Without intimacy, sex is not fulfilling to the Couple.

4.       Make time for sex. Intimate sex. Passionate sex. Quick sex. There should always be time for sex.

5.       Learn that it’s okay to not have sex when you are in pain, exhausted, sick, or not mentally into it. But when these excuses are constant, seek help professionally.

6.       Go to the doctor regularly to stay healthy. Dentist and eye doctors, too. Stay in peak physical condition.

7.       Exercise regularly. Take care of your body and heart and they will take care of you.

8.       Seek professional therapy – marriage and individual if necessary. Learn to communicate better, love yourself more, and strengthen your marriage. Win-Win.

9.       Speak about your spouse in glowing terms around everyone you speak. Never demean your spouse in public. Never air your “dirty laundry”.

10.   Let your spouse overhear you praise him/her. Often.

11.   Talk about problems with your spouse before they fester.

12.   Decide who oversees paying the bills. Both partners should be aware of the home budget and financial goals and live accordingly.

13.   Chores should be fairly distributed. Only you and your spouse can determine what is “fair”.

14.   Hold hands.

15.   Sit together.

16.   Have Date Nights. Or Date Days. Or Date Mornings. They needn’t cost money, it’s about spending time together and making one another the priority.

17.   Learn to compromise. In a Couple, one person isn’t always going to get their way. It’s not 50/50 that makes a couple survive, it’s 100/100.

18.   Learn to have a sense of humor about Life. Life is stressful and dark at times, but laughter can brighten dark times.

19.   Honor your Couple milestones. Wedding anniversaries should be observed with reverence and celebration. EVERY YEAR.

20.   Do things apart. If one of you enjoys something the other does not, spend time apart so the individuals in the Couple can enjoy their recreational time.

21.   Do things together. Find a few things to do together that bring you both joy and enhance the Couple.

22.   Be kind to your spouse’s parents/family. If you love your spouse, it makes sense to love – or like – his/her family. There are always extreme exceptions, but overall, it doesn’t hurt to be kind, friendly, and loving.

23.   Fighting is part of marriage. When you stop communicating, it’s over. But fighting should have a time when you each listen to one another and figure out what’s going on, and there should be a resolution.

24.   Sing together. There should be at least a few songs you both enjoy. Belt them out in the car, in the shower, or whenever it makes you happy.

25.   Be patient. We all learn Life’s lessons at different paces. Allow your spouse time to navigate Life.

26.   Compliment one another.

27.   Complement one another.

28.   Bring one another coffee, tea, water, seltzer… Small acts of kindness are vitally important.

29.   Reminisce about how your fell in love, your wedding, and other early romantic milestones often. These keep the Couple aware of their powerful connection. Continue to make new romantic milestones that keep the marriage enduring.

30.   Kiss, always.

 

There are so many other nuggets of wisdom, but these made my top list.

As our 30^th Anniversary is upon us, I am most thankful our marriage has endured.

I’m thankful for all the help we’ve gotten to get to this point. Help from our parents and families, from our children and our friends. We also have had tremendous help from two therapists, two 12-Step Programs, and a stubborn belief that we belong together.

We are better together.

We love each other.

Always.

December 24, 2022

New Year's Eve 2023

New Year’s Eve is like the Rock Star of the Holidays! It is full of glitz and glamour, music and partying, and a huge kiss-worthy celebration at midnight.

Or it’s not.

For every person who parties like the former, there are scores of people who refuse.

New Year’s Eve is also a wonderful evening to spend safely tucked in at home. You can have a small get-together if you like, it’s fun to share the holiday with friends and neighbors, family and loved ones as you ring in a new year.

Foods can range from leftovers from Christmas week to appetizers and desserts since no one cares about a sit-down dinner on December 31^st.

But even if you hold up at home, alone, and want to honor this change of calendar, there is much to do if you care to participate.

If you have children who are too young to make it to midnight (or you yourself are), find celebrations in other parts of the world where it has turned midnight and 2023 has already arrived. Australia, Egypt, Germany, or anywhere that is in a time zone before ours. It’s an educational research project that can expand to HOW that country celebrates – traditions they observe, foods they eat, etc. – and allows for broadening of one’s horizons without leaving home. Plus, by celebrating before midnight comes here, you get to go to bed at a “decent” hour. Sounds like a Win Win!

With the end of a year, it is a great time to create a Time Capsule. Find a container that you don’t mind storing in your home that will be off limits for a few years or up to a decade. Fill it with a newspaper from December 31, 2022, and other ‘artifacts’ that are indicative of the times we’ve just lived. I don’t recommend putting in the latest iPhone, but you could throw in a defunct iPhone IV, other tech that doesn’t work but once did, and other items that show what was popular (posters, magazines, greeting cards), useful, and a part of YOUR life or that of your family’s. It’s a cool process to assemble a Time Capsule, and even more exciting to open it in the future. Just make sure you remember where you place it, so it doesn’t get lost forever.

Another way to honor the end of the year is to write a letter to your future self. It could start, “Dear Me in 2033”. You can include information of who you are now but can also encapsulate the hopes and dreams you have for your future. No one is too old for this project as having goals, hopes, and dreams keep us all motivated. The letter should be completely private, so you are totally honest with yourself. Let your mind wander and tap its most cherished dreams. Then, write it down so you can start working towards it. Powerful.

As for New Year’s Resolutions, I’m not a big fan. I know that most get forgotten by January 13, never to be tackled again until December 31^st when people think of the same hateful things – 1. Lose weight 2. Become a millionaire 3. Marry a millionaire…  And so on.

Perhaps you need to honor yourself in a different way. It needn’t be written down, but it can be. Forgive yourself. Yes, as a new year dawns, go into it free of self-loathing. Instead of telling yourself to Lose Weight, simply tell yourself to look in the mirror and love yourself. Then, make a small decision that you can manage like, walk 10 minutes more per day. That’s it, just walk. By the end of January, you’ll be feeling more energetic and want to add more time to that. You’ll start making better food choices – no food after 7p, especially junk food. Or, add an apple or veggies to meal.

Baby steps, lifestyle changes, nothing drastic that leaves one feeling deprived. It’s about feeling better about yourself NOW, not when you lose 30 pounds. Love who you are, forgive yourself the trespasses you feel you’ve done, and start 2023 with a renewed passion for YOU. Be kinder to yourself, be kinder to others, be accepting, and soon, your disposition will change for the better. Now that’s a New Year’s Resolution you can stick to!

Are you saddened that New Year’s Day means the end of the Christmas holidays? Do you abhor taking the Christmas tree down, undecorating your home, and having the absence of light?

Here are some recommendations. First, make undecorating the tree as festive as decorating it! Call some people up who you actually like to come over and help with this tedious chore. Offer beer and pizza, Chinese take-out and wine, or simply Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. They’ll appreciate getting out of their house, and with your task, many hands make for light work, and then you are left with the chore finished.

Let’s tackle the absence of (artificial) light. If you love the home decorated with lights, leave some up! Or, buy some now with the deep discounts at the stores (already 70% off or more in many locations) and put some up in your living room, dining room, bedroom, or kitchen. It’s YOUR HOME, decorate it the way you want.

Create a winter scene post-Christmas with snowflake ornaments and white twinkling lights. For Valentine’s Day, put up heart ornaments and red lights. The possibilities are endless and will help brighten the dark winter that lay ahead.

The New Year’s celebrations are waiting to be had; however, you want to observe them. And, although Christmas is ending for 2022, it is never over. Christmas is a year-round season and feeling if you allow it to be.

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year 2023 and best to you all year long!

 

 

Angels

As 2022 comes to a close in a couple short weeks, we take time to reflect on what a year it was, what we learned, and how we want to proceed into 2023.

As the Christmas holiday is upon us next week, we find we have been surrounding ourselves with favorite things. Nutcrackers, toy trains, snowmen, and various other symbols of the season adorn our homes, our Christmas trees, and ease our mind. They are powerful reminders of happier times, family, celebration, and togetherness.

These symbols have the power to make the world a better place.

How?

Let’s explore.

Angels. Surround yourself with Angels.

Many - most? - cultures and religions agree that Angels exist. They are a common thread in our shared Humanity.

There is something comforting about the presence of Angels in our lives.

We are not alone.

I’ll say it again...

We are not alone.

In a time when people are questioning their beliefs and faith, it’s vital to understand that we are surrounded by Angels.

A line from Miracle on 34th Street,

 

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”

 

I believe.

I believe in Santa Claus, an Angel in my life.

And I surely believe in Angels.

If you are struggling with your faith in your religion, the government, Humanity, or God, talk to someone. It’s not easy but necessary. You are worth the effort.

Look for the Angels, they surround us daily. They volunteer, they wear uniforms, they smile brightly, hold our hands when we are scared or sad. They speak words of comfort and peace.

Angels are people. People are Angels.

I surround myself with Angels - year-round - and try to mirror what I can.

Surround yourself with Angels.

Be one.

The world can be and IS a better place if we just believe.

Santa Claus. Believe in Santa Claus. 🎅🏻

That’s right, Believe.

I understand for many that belief ended years even decades ago, but it’s time to reevaluate.

Santa Claus has been around for over 1700 years. His importance and presence have waxed and waned in many cultures over the centuries, but he has survived and thrived and still has a vital and powerful role in society.

As stated in Miracle on 34th Street (I’m quoting this again),

“Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”

I believe. Maybe you can again. Here are some reasons why believing in Santa Claus is not only great but helpful:

Santa Claus is omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipotent (all-powerful) and uses his knowledge and power for GOOD. That’s incredible in any era, but a beautiful and important fact for this 21st Century year of 2022.

Santa Claus is SELFLESS. He acts FOR OTHERS. He is a model for human decency, charity, and compassion.

Santa Claus is LOVING and CARING. He may keep a “Naughty List” but when it comes down to it, he gives children myriad opportunities to change for the better. He’s patient, wise, forgiving, and kind to a fault. He wants us to succeed. He wants us to thrive. He wants to spoil us. He has faith we will mend our ways and behave for goodness’ sake.

Santa Claus’ Generosity of Spirit knows no bounds. He wants to make our Christmas wishes come true. In addition, he wants us to help make others Christmas wishes come true. He hopes we work in tandem with him to provide children whose families can’t to have a Merry Christmas. He prays we follow in his actions to provide for those in our communities who can’t.

If we all believed in Santa Claus fervently, perhaps our communities - our shared Humanity - would be thriving, too.

I believe. Won’t you please join me in believing in Santa Claus, too?

Be the one you long to have in your life. Emulate the ideal and the ripple effects will be powerful resulting in like behaviors.

After our Christmas/Holiday symbols are safely tucked away in storage until next year, let’s remember the positive effects they have when we allow them to work through us. Truly our wishes of “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” will reverberate the entire year through if we keep the message in our hearts and not stowed away with the decorations.

 

 

How Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward Saved Me By: Candice Smith

 

Recently I took the six hours needed to watch Ethan Hawke’s documentary called The Last Movie Stars (HBO Max) and was blown away.

If you don’t know who Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward were and are, then research needs to occur before reading this piece any further. For the rest of us, these two were a part of the fabric of my American upbringing. I knew their movies, I knew their love story, I knew their politics, his racing, her theater, and their philanthropy. I thought.

Watching this comprehensive documentary with their words, their children, and their images completely transformed how I looked at them as individuals, as a couple, and, more importantly to me, how I looked at myself.

Like many in the world, my first world, I suffer. I suffer with self-esteem issues. I suffer from mental issues. I suffer from the post-COVID world. I suffer from having teenagers. I suffer from anything and everything and nothing at all.

Watching Newman and Woodward on my television for six hours brought a profound understanding, a clarity that I had heretofore never experienced in my life. Ever.

They were enraptured with one another when they met. Their passion ebbed and flowed but never disappeared.

They were equally impressed with one another’s talent, perhaps more he than her.

She sacrificed to raise a family, his and theirs. She did it brilliantly if not perfectly, but it wasn’t the path she would choose again perhaps.

He was an alcoholic. She stayed despite the pain, uncertainty, and boorishness it brought.

He took up racing at 47 years of age. She rooted him on race after race.

They were a couple, a team, a family.

And, yet they were pulled together and apart like any marriage.

They continued to reinvent themselves.

They continued to make mistakes. The same mistakes.

They loved, hard.

They shared tragedy.

They shared joy.

They shared recipes with America and made millions for charity when no one else was doing this. Is ANYONE doing it even now besides them?

And while watching and learning and gleaning and sitting transfixed, I couldn’t help feeling good about myself.

Good about my marriage.

Good about my future.

You see, I’m nothing like them, and I’m everything like them.

My marriage is happy and joyful and flawed and terrible.

My desire to reinvent myself shows promise and then winds back onto itself to normalcy.

Creatures of habit.

My world has been dark of late. Problems that will remain unnamed yet are real and heavy and robbers of joy.

They affect my marriage, my family life, my serenity.

But, by seeing that Newman and Woodward had problems, too, I see a different perspective. That they suffered and endured. They reveled in one another and persevered, I am able to feel an optimism that has escaped me for far too long.

Perhaps I’d held myself, my husband, our marriage, and our family to far too high a standard.

We’re doing pretty great, thanks.

Oh, we still have problems, we’ll still fight, and we’ll be grumpy, scared, and over it, but we’ll never quit.

See, we love each other.

We’re imperfectly perfect for one another.

We love our children, our home, our lives, and each other.

And, if two crazy movie stars can muddle their way through life and keep a marriage together for 50 years, there’s no telling what two regular people like my husband and I can do – we’re nearly through the first thirty years!

So, thank you Ethan Hawke for saying yes to the project and putting a human light on two of Hollywood’s biggest deities.

Thank you, Newman children, for opening up about your parents, their story through your eyes, and for letting us know how much you loved your flawed parents.

And, thank you Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, for doing your thing for all of those decades. Right or wrong, good or bad, love or hate, drunk or sober, knowledgeable or ignorant, you provided one type of roadmap for this lady to consult when she’s feeling lost.

Lost I felt – and will feel again, no doubt – but this documentary about your lives makes me feel that whatever Life throws my way, I can navigate it with my husband by my side.

Thanks.

 

 

And Still We Remember By: Candice Smith

 

Time stood still.

No one moved or breathed.

No one believed that The Intimidator was mortal.

Certainly he’d walk away from what looked initially like an innocuous hit into the wall.

This was Daytona, the track that Earnhardt won consistently at and even had captured a 500 victory three years previously.

A collective gasp was heard.

Hearts sunk.

Mourning began.

A line was drawn – events that happened before February 18, 2001 and after.

The day Dale Earnhardt died.

Accidents happen, but he’d always walked away able to race the next time.

Lives forever changed that fateful day.

Healing began.

Dale Earnhardt will never be forgotten.

His indelible mark is as palpable today as it was then.

Perhaps more.

Then Earnhardt had as many detractors as fans. Fans would boo, jeer, and argue what a terrible competitor he was. A cheat, some would say, or a thug on the race track. Fans of Mark Martin, Rusty Wallace, Darrell Waltrip, and many other drivers couldn’t stand Earnhardt.

But when he was gone the enormity of Earnhardt’s death reverberated across NASCAR Nation and beyond.

Flags still fly proudly with the “No. 3” and Dale Earnhardt signature. His fans – ardent, loyal, passionate – still remember.

Always.

He was so much more than a NASCAR star.

Earnhardt was a sports icon, a business entrepreneur, a  farmer, a sponsor’s dream, a winning driver, a champion who tied King Richard Petty’s seven championships.

Earnhardt was a jokester, a fierce competitor, and a loyal friend.

He was a husband, business partner, hunter, and a father.

His legacy has made him immortal.

The name Earnhardt will forever be associated with racing – NASCAR –  and a host of positive things in the world as his family’s reach is constantly expanding.

Twenty years later and the landscape has changed immensely.

The one thing that has not changed is the allegiance shown by Earnhardt fans. There are endless stories of how Earnhardt touched their lives.

Others have entire rooms filled with Earnhardt memorabilia.

What every one of those fans has in common is their love, admiration, and adulation of Dale Earnhardt.

Twenty years on, as much that has changed, the Earnhardt fans stay the same.

Origins of Love & Loyalty: Dale Earnhardt 20 Years Later

Dale Earnhardt has been gone twenty years, but his life and legacy live on as do his diehard fans.

For many, losing Earnhardt was the end of NASCAR. For others, it was a natural transition from father to son. For so many he is still an icon, a legend, a god.

But how did this second-generation wheelman garner such passionate fandom? How did a guy with mediocre luck at the start of his career, catapult himself to stardom?

With 7 championships that tied him with the King of NASCAR, Richard Petty, and 76 race wins that put him 8^th on the all-time wins list, Earnhardt was an unstoppable winning machine.

Even when a trophy from the Daytona 500, the Great American Race, eluded him for two decades, Earnhardt finally made it to Victory Lane in 1998. Every team member of every NASCAR Cup team lined up to high five and congratulate Earnhardt on such an auspicious win.

Earnhardt teased, played practical jokes, worked hard away from the track, and worked even harder on it. He was a damn great friend, mentor, husband, and father.

He was a Hero.

So how did his self-proclaimed Super Fans discover him and maintain their loyalty to his memory?

Here’s a random sampling of stories from fans I've met throughout the years:

Ira Coleman Jr.:

“He was having an autograph session at West Chevrolet Alcoa Tennessee and everybody was lined out the door waiting on him to show up. When him and Richard showed up Richard talked first and said folks I apologize for being late, Dale had scared us to death driving us over from the airport, he has drove like he was racing @ Bristol, I saw speeds over 100 a few times and he passed traffic by going up on the curb and every which way. lol The Folks were lined up for a hundred yards outside and after a hour his manager can't come in and tell on him that it was time to go, that they had to kiss to pine and fly on to Bristol Motor Speedway. Dale said I ain't leaving till I see everyone and he probably didn't because a man I work with had his autograph signed around 11 o'clock at night.”

 

Cathy Ann Brock Manchester remembers, “the time he came to Orlando, Fla, at K92, and I got his autograph! I never will forget that day when I seen him!”

 

Mindy Reno said, “My favorite memory is when I got to meet Dale Sr on June 22, 2000!”

 

David Foytlin:

“It was at an open house at RCR '89. I had an Earnhardt cap signed by the crew. I saw Richard sitting off to the side. Took him the hat for his signature. Told him that I had a spot on it for Dale to sign. He said wait a minute, took the hat and came back a few minutes later with Dale’s signature. I cherish that cap so much.”

 

Joey Cassady:

“When Dale came to Bowling Green, KY for an autograph session. It was cold and there was a pregnant woman that could not afford a ticket to get in and was waiting outside in the very cold weather. Dale saw her and asked her why she was waiting outside and she said she did not have a enough money for a ticket and it was her wedding anniversary and she wanted an autograph for her husband. Dale said let’s take a ride to the airport and he gave her his jacket off his back and some other stuff and ask if she had a name for the baby yet and she said no and he said Dale is a good name. He was a warrior on the track and a classy guy off the track.”

 

Brian Scott Gregory:

“The ultimate was when I was at the MI track in August of '98 and got to meet him, shake his hand and sat down with him and had a drink. Now that as awesome.  He didn’t treat me any different then he would have anyone else, and I didn’t treat him different. We sat and had a few drinks and talked about the weather and fishing and hunting. Not one word was mentioned about racing other then he did say about Jr. (I just don’t know what I'm gonna do with that boy, he just won’t listen to anyone). Gotta love it!”

 

Michael McHone:

“I also met Dale and Richard. They came to a grand opening for a Chevy dealer in Alaska. I have both their autographs on my copy of the 1994 Winston cup yearbook, the year of his last championship. What great people they were.  NASCAR took a big loss when Dale passed away.”

 

John Flock:

“He made an appearance at Fulton Speedway on one Watkins Glen weekend. After more than an hour of signing autographs, I had a private meeting with him in the office. All went well, talking of his dad's exploits in the 50's. When that first race hit the track, he stood up and said, ‘I gotta go. Can't stand to watch races when I'm not in a car.’”

 

Mark L. Bardin:

“Years ago, after a race in NH a friend of mine stopped at a restaurant. The place was packed. They sat my friend and his wife at a table for 6. They ordered there meals and as they we’re waiting in walked Dale Sr, Jr, Dale’s wife and (not sure)Jeffery. There was no place for them to eat so my friend noticed them and walked over and offered to have them sit with them. Dale accepted and was very kind, pleasant. Dry down to earth for such a famous man and family. My friend has since passed and lived in Pawlet, VT. I’m from Granville, NY right over the border from Pawlet, VT. Hearing the story and the the passing of Dale which I saw on TV was devastating . My father died in my arms at a basketball game up in the stands at 51 yearrs old . We worked together every day. Went to Dirt track racing together. We were very close. So, I relate to JR when his dad passed. I always wanted to meet them.  Jr. and I have red hair.”

 

Daniel Pascale:

 

“I watched him in 1979. He was rookie of the year. I couldn't stop watching him. My mom knew where I was every Sunday. He was my hero.”

 

Mary Elizabeth Gibson Peace

 

“Love Dale for The Kindness He Showed To Others & Never Wanted Any Recognition For It... He Put on This Hard Core But Really Had A Heart Of Gold....”

 

Dennis Baker

 

“Dale Earnhardt was one hell of a driver. I started liking him in the 80’s. I was and am a huge Chevy guy. The day he passed Bill Elliot in the grass he was my guy from then on. I’ve watched him go between two cars in turn one at Atlanta to pass them both. Come from 18 to win in 5 laps at ‘dega . I saw him win his last race at ‘dega and run his last at Daytona. I even named a dog I had after him.”

 

Greeta Burbage

 

“I loved the man he was and always will be the best ever, if I had to work on a weekend I would record the race and every break I’d be in my car listening to it on the radio!! He was the MAN!!”

 

Brian Blevins

 

“I became a fan based on his sheer determination and will to win… his driving ability was unmatched…”

 

Gerry Hamelton

 

“I remember one time after a race that he won on the last lap. Someone asked Dale why he had taken the leader out.

His answer was, ‘I wanted to win the race.’”

 

Lorie White

 

“I love watching Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. racing together. But after Dale Sr. passed away Dale Jr. became my favorite driver.”

 

Donna Lama Larson

 

“He was my favorite driver, I met him a few times, nice guy. Was at the race when he was killed, broke my heart. Cried For days. NASCAR died when we lost him.”

 

Keith Cox

 

“Dale was a real deal... raced you hard whether for the win or just to get back/put you a lap back!!!!”

 

Zack Ireland

 

“I was at my friend’s daughter’s birthday party. They had the race on TV. I had no idea who Earnhardt was. They asked what car I liked, it was the black number 3. It’s the coolest car on the track. The rest is history. Forever a fan, followed him ever since.”

 

Joyce Domini

 

“I became a fan when he was rookie of the year, when I was in Daytona watching the race when he drove the yellow and green Chevy. He was bumper to bumper on everybody in his way. I could not take my eyes off him. That was the first time we went to all races after that in states next to us. Alabama, Atlanta, Daytona, Darlington. Two a year at each place, then I got to meet him in Daytona, he was staying in the same hotel I was in.  I was so excited. I saw the mark key that said welcome Dale Earnhardt. I first thought it was just to Daytona, but it was to the hotel. Someone said he was at the beach with his family. I sat by the pool until he came up. I had my picture taken with him. My husband started talking to him, because had won lots of trophies in drag racing and could talk on his level. He visited with us a while, he was the nicest man. I also meet Richard Childress, he was so nice also.”

 

Ray E. Shelton

 

“I started watching Dale after reading an article about he and the death of his father. He drew my attention and his struggle to race in the NASCAR series was something that I felt drawn to. He was a no mess with driver that put his all into his racing. From his first full time season (‘79 ) to the beginning of an amazing career. Many hated him including drivers, but deep down it was like I was him. He worked hard away from the racetrack. When he had a bad race, I felt awful and grumpy then had a bad week myself. He was someone I looked up to and I couldn’t wait for the next race. The more I found out about him the more I followed him. The day we lost him my heart broke and I never hid the fact that I cried like was my best friend.”

 

There are as many stories as there are fans. There are as many “3” Flags that fly at races as any other number. New generations learn from others about “The Man In Black” and “The Intimidator”.

 

Dale Earnhardt lives on forever and continues to leave an indelible mark on his fans that will never go away.

 

 

 

 

 

Candice Smith, Chief 187, Christmas Candi

Welcome to my page!

My name is Candice Smith and I am thrilled you have found your way to this spot to find out more about me and what I do.

First and foremost, I am a wife and mother of three. I work hard in my community as a Board of Education trustee (in my second elected term) as well as work as a paraprofessional in a lovely school. Although I am also a licensed teacher, I work as a para because it fits the schedule I want to keep to raise my own children who are still at home.

Second, I am a three-time published author of the following books: Christmas Candi: A Guide To Year-round Holiday Bliss, The Man Behind the Beard co-authored by Pat Ficcio, and Drafting the Culinary Circuits co-authored by Eddie Crowther. Drafting the Culinary Circuits was a limited run book for 2020. 

Currently I am working on writing a book with my father about his lifelong love affair and ownership of automobiles. My dad used to write a popular series of articles that we are actively crafting into his memoirs. I also have a book in the planning stages about life, love, marriage, and parenthood.

I have written thousands of articles. Many of those articles were about Motorsports, specifically NASCAR and INDYCAR. I used to helm a website that offered these articles plus other articles from different writers about Formula One, ARCA, and other forms of Motorsports. At that website we also ran an Internet radio program titled "Drafting the Circuits" with a diverse and talented panel of writers and broadcasters who talked about and interviewed major talents including the legendary Mario Andretti, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison, IndyCar legend Bobby Unser, 10-time ARCA champion Frank Kimmel, and Indianapolis 500 champion Alexander Rossi among scores of others In addition, I secured media credentials for Drafting the Circuits to cover races from the Indianapolis 500 to the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, and NASCAR races at Texas Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and Pocono International Raceway.

During the 2020 Holiday Season I posted daily Holiday Hints on social media. They were so well-received and many became the basis for articles that appeared weekly from Thanksgiving Week through New Year's Eve.

2021 promises to be another prolific year in terms of my writings. Monthly articles will be published while I continue to create books for future publication. The "Holiday Hints" will sprinkle the Internet periodically and become Daily Hints once September 2021 rolls around. 

Thank you for coming to this page to learn more about Candice Smith/Chief 187/Christmas Candi. You can find me on Facebook at the following pages where I post original content:

https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasCandi187

https://www.facebook.com/santabeardless

https://www.facebook.com/DraftingtheCulinaryCircuits

https://www.facebook.com/Chief187s

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Feel free to read the blogs that populate this site and check back for new ones in 2021. If you are following me on social media, you'll be alerted.