Leaks, creaks and dirtbikes...oh my.
I swear. I am organized.
Well, maybe I used to be organized. I'm trying. That' counts for something, I hope.
The space in my head is taking reservations and the wait-list is long. I was thinking about what I think about in my free time to think, and I realized that somehow, I don't really have that kind of free time anymore. I'm thinking about lists, writing lists, thinking about work when I'm not at work, thinking about Elsie when I'm not with her, wondering about dinner, shopping for dinner, making dinner, cleaning up dinner, cleaning the house, improving the house, thinking about how to improve the house, blah blah blah...there's just no available space.
So when it's time to pack up for the weekend and head to Tri-Cities for the first round of the PRO (Pacific Racing Organization) Series, I can't and don't just throw some fresh clothes in a bag and throw the bag in the Sprinter Van and head east. Now I make lists. More than one. I grocery shop for meals. We have a motor-home to clean up, stock up, pack up and then live in for the weekend. I'm not complaining at all, but this adventure was very different than any of our adventures before.
Elsie, Roscoe and I have the privilege to travel with Joey to each round this season, which really is a privilege because we get to help and watch him shuffle through all of the different hats he wears - announcing, racing, promoting, and now being dad. This first trip was full of some lessons learned. I thought I'd chronicle post-race what we've uncovered about ourselves, good and bad, and how each time we do it, we get a little more savvy.
1. Bring towels. Bring several. Because sometimes your new-to-you motorhome might have a crack in the shower pan, and when your dirty, sweaty, smelly husband takes his first shower in the motorhome, water might spill out onto the kitchen floor as you're making taco meat. It's a real shuffle to try to handle a baby, keep the motorhome from burning down, and find enough towels to sop up gallons of water. Bring towels.
2. Expectations are worthless. Even though we came to watch Joey race, Elsie slept during said races. This is a good thing, because Elsie slept at the track.
3. Bring dry-shampoo. Because when the shower breaks and you have the option to wash your hair in the kitchen sink, which also has a leaky faucet, don't. I did. Instead, opt for a good dry shampoo. I won't make that mistake again.
The best lesson, although we already knew it, was how much of a family the motorcycle community really is. I got to see "the track" through the eyes of a one year old. I noticed all of the red-faced kids on their Strider bikes and the dads sweeping their kid's starting gates. I noticed the other moms there. I realized how much I appreciate them and all they do to make track weekends happen for their families. They do it with smiles on their faces and you'd never know all that's going on behind the scenes.
And I really noticed my heart swell at the sight of my husband in his Fox gear, baby in his arms, hanging out with all of our friends. I so appreciate the way our lives have evolved, and the "dudes" at the track really are our best friends. They are also fathers, brothers, and husbands. And I remembered that this is a giant and powerful community that will help us raise our baby girl, and importantly craft how she sees the world.
So now we have another list going about what to fix on the motorhome, starting with the kitchen faucet and the shower pan. We will uncover a lot more, and that's part of this new adventure.
We did get pretty lucky with the motorhome though. It kept the IPAs nicely chilled, ready to be handed out at the end of a long race day to all of the friends who stopped by to say hi, and that's a win in my book. The chardonnay too..
See you at the next round...
XO
Meagan
Well, maybe I used to be organized. I'm trying. That' counts for something, I hope.
The space in my head is taking reservations and the wait-list is long. I was thinking about what I think about in my free time to think, and I realized that somehow, I don't really have that kind of free time anymore. I'm thinking about lists, writing lists, thinking about work when I'm not at work, thinking about Elsie when I'm not with her, wondering about dinner, shopping for dinner, making dinner, cleaning up dinner, cleaning the house, improving the house, thinking about how to improve the house, blah blah blah...there's just no available space.
 |
| Coffee, two lists, two growlers to fill on the way out of town. |
So when it's time to pack up for the weekend and head to Tri-Cities for the first round of the PRO (Pacific Racing Organization) Series, I can't and don't just throw some fresh clothes in a bag and throw the bag in the Sprinter Van and head east. Now I make lists. More than one. I grocery shop for meals. We have a motor-home to clean up, stock up, pack up and then live in for the weekend. I'm not complaining at all, but this adventure was very different than any of our adventures before.
Elsie, Roscoe and I have the privilege to travel with Joey to each round this season, which really is a privilege because we get to help and watch him shuffle through all of the different hats he wears - announcing, racing, promoting, and now being dad. This first trip was full of some lessons learned. I thought I'd chronicle post-race what we've uncovered about ourselves, good and bad, and how each time we do it, we get a little more savvy.
 | |
| Hanging with my crew. |
2. Expectations are worthless. Even though we came to watch Joey race, Elsie slept during said races. This is a good thing, because Elsie slept at the track.
3. Bring dry-shampoo. Because when the shower breaks and you have the option to wash your hair in the kitchen sink, which also has a leaky faucet, don't. I did. Instead, opt for a good dry shampoo. I won't make that mistake again.
 |
| *Heart Swells* |
The best lesson, although we already knew it, was how much of a family the motorcycle community really is. I got to see "the track" through the eyes of a one year old. I noticed all of the red-faced kids on their Strider bikes and the dads sweeping their kid's starting gates. I noticed the other moms there. I realized how much I appreciate them and all they do to make track weekends happen for their families. They do it with smiles on their faces and you'd never know all that's going on behind the scenes.
And I really noticed my heart swell at the sight of my husband in his Fox gear, baby in his arms, hanging out with all of our friends. I so appreciate the way our lives have evolved, and the "dudes" at the track really are our best friends. They are also fathers, brothers, and husbands. And I remembered that this is a giant and powerful community that will help us raise our baby girl, and importantly craft how she sees the world.
 |
| Joey and Elsie checking out the dirt on day one |
We did get pretty lucky with the motorhome though. It kept the IPAs nicely chilled, ready to be handed out at the end of a long race day to all of the friends who stopped by to say hi, and that's a win in my book. The chardonnay too..
See you at the next round...
XO
Meagan