You ever had one of those days you just didn’t know what to do? You tried so hard to focus and get something done, but the more you tried, the more things seemed to slip through your fingers. I have those. It’s not unusual. But I have something to comfort that. Blogging. Getting thoughts off my head, and to you. Whoever it is. It’s like a one way pen pal. And it focuses on the topic I know. The one I crave. You see, where I come from, Nascar is far from popular. I can’t name anyone within a mile that know what Nascar even stands for. I don’t go to school, so I can’t really use that as a comparison. But I do go to church. There are a solid dozen or so guys my age there. And another dozen or so girls. And do you know how many know what Nascar stand for? Big fat 0. And would you like to know how many will listen to me,  a Nascar geek, talk about it? 2. At least I have that. For everyone else, it’s all, fishing this, and football that, or something like that. Don’t get me wrong. I love an hour or so on or by a lake trying to catch a bass. And I’m looking into getting on a football team. But that’s not exactly my heart. My core. My core is 700 or so horsepower machines being guided around a track at 200 mph on a blistering hot Summer day in Daytona. That’s my happy place. Either in the stands, or in the garage, watching. And my blog is my outlet. The place where I let the maddening amount of Nascar info spill out.

It’s rather strange to me. I’m in the south, where Nascar was born. In fact, I’m in the state where it was literally made. Florida. The Sunshine State. I hate how accurate that nickname is. I go to Daytona for almost every race they have there. I recently went to Homestead-Miami and watched all three championship races. That’s a really nice place by the way. I would definitely recommend a visit. SO in short, I live in a state where Nascar was born, there are three races a year, and the championships are decided. And yet, I can not seem to find a fellow Nascar lover who shares my joy in divulging every bit of Nascar info we have. Wow. Anyone know a house for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina?

But in all seriousness, I do wish more people were like me. People always want to be unique, and al that, and they seem to forget how nice it is to have someone like you. That’s the nice thing about blogging. It is my gateway. My release gate. Whatever you want to call it. But most of all, it’s the place I can be my true self. I can be the Nascar freak that doesn’t shut up. There was a time, when I found my love for Nascar, that I couldn’t shut up. I just kept talking about it. And it sort of cost me. I began to hide it. Don’t try that. You see, I made the mistake of letting people say who I should be. Well, I’m not like them. I’m no fisherman. I have no connection to something called the Civil Air Patrol. I can’t fly a darn plane. I can’t play any instrument. I don’t sing. (Trust me, that’s a blessing to those around me)  I like 70s and 80s music. And yes, I occasionally break out in what I call dancing. So, in essence, I’m a weirdo. I’m just the Nascar encyclopedia who seems like a complete misfit. But I’m not. That’s the thing. I’m right were I belong. Smack dab in the middle of a bunch of Nascar ignorant people who have never been to a race. And yes, there are some people who I avoid. Mainly the types who you can’t really talk to because they act like they’re above you. But it doesn’t matter. I’m who I am. And if they want to change that, well, that’s their problem. My grandfather has a better phrase for that, but I prefer to be a PG writer, at least when I’m blogging. And while I have avoided some people, I discovered that their are plenty of people like me, right were I am. Not Nascar fans. Just people who don’t like attaching themselves to that big group. People who like other things, which some people try to look down on. And the more I’ve watched, the more I realized what I missed when I tried to fit into that group of people. To be oneself, you can’t give up.

I spent about a year being someone I wasn’t. Hiding my Nascar geekiness. Trying to play along in the crowd. I hated it. It wasn’t just the Nascar side of me though. There were other aspects. But I’m focusing mainly on interests. The thing is, you can’t judge someone by what they like. My best friend likes fencing, he studies wars, and he comes from a family that was in more than one war. Pretty cool huh? And when you picture him, do you picture some aggressive, unfriendly type? You couldn’t be more wrong. He’s friendly, clever,  and has always had my back. My other friend is another great example. A horseback rider who owns a guinea pig and a couple dogs. Sound like an animal lover who spends all his time catching and releasing squirrels, while quietly strolling through the woods? Wrong. Outspoken, unafraid to talk to anyone, and a bit of a prankster. See what I mean? What a person enjoys is not who they are. I love Nascar, 70s music, a good book, and hugs. Don’t judge me by that though. I’m someone who can fit into almost any topic, just as long as I get the chance. And like a plant that was randomly dropped into a new environment, I’m bent on spreading. And slowly, I’ve begun to do so.

So, I hope you see the picture I’ve painted, and the lesson in it. And I hope you’ve taken notes, students. Just kidding. 🙂 But in all seriousness, I do hope you understand what I’ve tried to show you here. Nascar is great. But not everyone agrees. But does that mean they should rule me out as a friend. Not remotely. And time passes, and things change. People change. And friends come from those who were once enemies. But remember, a friend isn’t someone who only helps you in the goods times. It’s someone who stands with you in the bad. I’m rather isolated from other Nascar fans, but that doesn’t mean I’m alone. I have you. My audience. My blog is my stage. My keyboard is my cast. My mind is the script. And I just hope that I will always have my audience, so that someone can know who the real me is. After all, this is the blog of a Nascar geek (And proud to be one!)