"New and Old Memories Coming Together: ‘Godspeed’: Faith courses through the 100th running of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’"

"New and Old Memories Coming Together: ‘Godspeed’: Faith courses through the 100th running of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’"

I have missed the Indy 500 since moving to Seattle years ago because I usually have been scheduled to work, or I have been in worship services with the race, beginning at 9:00 a.m. PST.

I am home with a cold with a temperature, which has turned out to be a blessing. I heard the Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin from the Indianapolis Archdiocese offered an invocation prayer that was beautiful, heartfelt prayer. Then a rendition of "God Bless America" takes the form of a prayer (intro lyrics "as we raise our voices, in a solemn prayer") for God's blessing and peace for the nation ("...stand beside her and guide her through the night..."). I pray that more sporting events offer prayer. Well done!

Darius Rucker with his beautiful voice sang “The National Anthem." I found it refreshing that families with small children had they hands over their hearts.

When Indianapolis singer/songwriter Josh Kaufman and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir performed “Back Home Again in Indiana,” I remembered a resident and my Grandma Shaffer. A resident of mine, named Ann, who was an Indiana native, requested "Back Home Again in Indiana”, be sung at the conclusion of her Celebration of Life service said, "Do not sing the Jim Nabors' version.”

The Jim Nabors version is for my Grandma Shaffer. She loved Jim but her family loved her. This is for you, Grandma Shaffer, and my Shaffer cousins will understand.

Jim Nabors - "Back Home Again In Indiana" (1972 Indianapolis 500 Jim's first year at Indy.)

Don't be a Doubting Thomas. Dreams do come true.

Dave Thomas and Colonel Sanders

My cousin Lorraine posted the video on her Facebook page today and it has provided pause. Have I lived my dreams yet?

https://www.facebook.com/Happinessinyourlife/videos/1065176083563115/

Colonel Sanders began KFC when he was 65, and he is an Indiana native. Do you remember the Colonel’s Fort Wayne connection? 


A.  Phil Clauss
B. Dave Thomas
C. Hobby House
D. All of the above. 

Dave was one of the original investors in Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips. My first job out of high school was with Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips in Fort Wayne. Then Dave shortly created the Wendy’s chain after that. I had the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with Dave in Fort Wayne.

Here are you choices:

The answer is “D. All of the above.”

Wendy’s Dave Thomas worked for the Clauss Family at the Hobby House in Fort Wayne and KFC’s Colonel Harland Sanders had the Clauss’ offer Kentucky Fried Chicken in the Hobby House. (I loved the Hobby House as a kid. It was a treat.)

As Dave said in an interview, “People may tell you that you won't make it, that you're wasting your time. If you keep your dream in mind, have done your research and are willing to work hard, you can make it come true.” (Please see: http://www.evancarmichael.com/library/dave-thomas/Lesson-5-Believe-In-Your-Dream.html)

With these hometown connections and their inspiration, I have my dream and I will move forward with my dream today.

I am going to treat myself to lunch at a KFC and a Wendy’s this week because dreams do come true!

Walk your path. Make that connection.

Jack has been photo bombed.

As this week begins, walk your path no matter the unknown ahead and have a conversation with someone you do not know. There may be a true connection.

I walked along Seattle's Madison Park Beach on April 26th, and there were only a handful of people along the beach. An 81 ½ year old man stopped me as I walked by. He made a quip about my Purdue jacket. So I sat down on the bench with him. His name is Jack, and he visits Fort Wayne, which is my hometown, once a year to this day and does work with Asher.

I met a young woman, who is passionate about life and her music. Her name is Minnie. She attended a year of school in Fort Wayne at Aboite Elementary. She even played me, “Somewhere over the Rainbow” on her ukulele. (I hope Minnie still has the touchstone I gave her because she rocks.")

https://www.facebook.com/julia.shaffer.37/videos/10206478312939745/

With the Fort Wayne connections I made on my walk, I felt like Dorothy during the scene in “The Wizard of Oz,” where she clicked her heals together and said, “There’s no place like home.”

Walk your path. Make that connection.

Different Apperances. Transferrable Traits.

I had the afternoon off yesterday, so I visited Seward Park in Seattle. The sun’s rays reflected off of Lake Washington, flowers in bloom and Mount Rainier’s beauty shone. There was something more beautiful than the nature surrounding me. It was an observation, action taken, time of reflection and a lesson learned.

I noticed three women not dressed like me, who tried to figure out a piece of playground equipment. I gave them the time and patiently watched from a bench. I would have offered assistance. I gave them time and to my delight succeeded.

The following is an edited version from my Facebook post:

“A friend from my previous church in Renton, Washington, named Jolynn talks about and shares joy. She has imprinted joy within my being. I now find joy filled moments in daily life. These women moved to the United States from another country. They are Muslim and live in the Rainier Beach neighborhood.

They asked me if they were in trouble. I emphatically stated, ‘Do it again!’ And they did. I applauded. ‘How joyful!’"

https://www.facebook.com/julia.shaffer.37/videos/10206455051118214/

I would want these women on my staff because they were team players, displayed compassion for each other, exhibited problem solving skills and thought outside of the box yet would follow guidelines, and no doubt were trainable. Mostly, they expressed a sense of humor in a new culture while maintaining their beliefs.

Update on Baby Cayden from his Grandma Tina.

Cayden is tumor free now (thank you Jesus) but he still has a ways to go so please keep the prayers coming so that he will recover quickly and not have any setbacks! I want to thank everyone that has prayed for him and shared his updates and kept him close to your hearts heart emoticon he's a strong determined lil fighter and if he could i'm sure he'd want to personally thank each of you for not giving up on him Love you all heart emoticon

A Mother's Day Memory

I remember when "Wind Beneath My Wings" was released by Bette Midler., and yes, it was on the "Beaches" cassette tape. I gave it to my mom for Mother's Day. She always encouraged her children to shine and offered her strength.

Thank you for allowing me to shine in my own way.

Wishing my Mom and my Aunt Judy a "Happy Mother's Day!"

Prayers for Baby Cayden

A little boy by the name of Cayden was born with a rare brain cancer. He is scheduled for brain surgery this coming Monday, May 9th in Indiana at 6-months old to remove the tumor. Many of you from the Northrop (NHS) class of 1980 will know his grandmother, Tina Schaefer (Milholland) and his aunt is Tammera Milholland (Tammy) from NHS '79. I am blessed to have both Tina and Tammy as friends.

Let's hold the Milholland family and little Cayden, who is a true fighter. According to Tina, "He smiles and laughs through everything." This little boy exudes love and laughter. He tugs on the heartstrings of many.There is no doubt that Cayden is a gift. May God bless, Tina, Tammy, Cayden and their family.

Please share this prayer request with your family and friends.

From the family

Cayden's results for his MRI are good so he will be having his surgery on Monday, May 9th. Brain surgery is very risky and Cayden needs all the prayers he can get. Lord, please guide the doctors hands and rid him of this terrible tumor, keep Cayden safe. Please pray for Ashley and Corey to have the strength they need to be strong for Cayden.(Also, Cayden turned 6 months old yesterday. He has been through so much in just six short months but he is a fighter and he is strong. He is going to beat this ugly thing called cancer!) I love you Cayden Shane. ‪#‎teamcayden‬ ‪#‎caydenstrong‬‪#‎prayingforacure‬ ‪#‎fighter‬ ‪#‎miraclebaby‬ ‪#‎iloveyou‬ ‪#‎praying‬

An Inspiration

This is from Noreen's post on her Facebook page, and she inspired me to make and send her a hat: "A friend since kindergarten knitted me a hat and sent it to me along with a book about a girl who wanted to collect 100 hats. The challenge was obvious. Now I too had to collect 100 hats.

So, if anyone out here want to buy me, make me, or loan me a hat or two (or three), I challenge you to do so! Just let me know if you want your hat back! I promise to post a picture of me on facebook wearing it. Maybe even instagram!"

This hat came to me from Julia Shaffer! A splash of color! Number 36!

Let us send Noreen loving and healing prayers.