D . I . COLUMNIST
PHOTO : RICK BELDEN
The Real Deal with Tommy D ' Aprile
Have you ever had a day where
it seems like you need another five hours to accomplish what is on your agenda for that day ? I think all of us can relate to the fast-paced lifestyle that leaves us drained and longing for a break . The funny thing is that when we get that break we seem to fill it with so many other things that our breaks need breaks . I can relate to this and I am sure many of you can also . Let me share a little story about a recent trip I had .
I needed to get to Illinois to get fitted for a new race car and pick up a new motorhome in Pennsylvania at the same time , so the story begins . I caught a flight at 4 a . m . on a Monday leaving from Sarasota , Florida . I flew from Sarasota to Charlotte , North Carolina , had a short layover , then flew to Illinois . Got a rental car and headed out for the one-hour drive to RJ Race Cars . I spent a couple hours there , headed back to the airport and caught a flight to Chicago , grabbed a pizza , then flew out to Pennsylvania . I got to my hotel and was in bed by 1 a . m . Needless to say that was a long day .
Then next morning I was picked up and brought to the place where I picked up my new coach . I spent several hours there , then started the drive home at 1:30 p . m . After I left , within five minutes , I made a wrong turn and wound up in a small neighborhood with 45 feet of motorhome . Life ’ s unexpected detour had me concerned that I was in a place way too small for this rig . I made it out and made my way home the next day .
Now all of this sounds like a non-stop whirlwind of three days filled with time schedules and hectic distractions , but it was quite the opposite . You see , it was on this trip that I took time to look around , even on the detours , and enjoy all that was before me . At the airports , I experienced travelers from all over and enjoyed four flights in one day . A little more than I would like , but I still enjoyed them all , not to mention the Chicago pizza I was able to enjoy .
Driving through Illinois , I marveled at all of the farming communities and took time to appreciate all that our farmers do for our country . At the race shop , I enjoyed amazing conversation with people I would normally not get to speak with . At the motorhome dealership , I had another amazing conversation that may very well have been life changing .
On the detour in the small housing community , I was blown away by the timeless homes built many years ago . At a truck stop , I got to bless a young woman working there . And on the drive home through the mountains of Virginia was in awe of the color changing leaves I saw .
On this trip , I took in everything I saw and experienced and gave thanks instead of complaining . I just realized how blessed we are as a nation . No news , no social media , but just great phone conversations and encounters with amazing people and sights .
Sometimes we need to lay aside those media devices and have actual face-to-face interactions with people and show them you care . All of your one million social media friends will do nothing for you , but the people who are actually in your life can .
You see , it ’ s not the detours that are the problem , it ’ s us . We see everything that goes our way as good and everything that does not as bad . Take all of it in and choose to find good . It could have been a crazy , hectic three-day trip for me , but instead I received it as an opportunity to relax and enjoy all that was available to me .
All of us travel to races either 30 minutes from home or 30 hours from home . I don ’ t wait to be excited only when I get to the racetrack anymore . Now I ’ m just excited to experience all that a day has to offer and enjoy the gifts we have been given . As always , the choice is yours to make .
Email Tommy at tommyd @ dragillustrated . com
November 2020
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