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Sitting here tears running down my face listening to Laura Brannigan
singing "Find Me." I discovered it when Donald Jacks left us,
almost describes the feeling of being left behind. That song,
and "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "The Show Must Go On" both
by Queen seem very fitting when one of you leaves us. Added this
year, "Time to Say Goodbye" by Sarah Brightman or Andrea Bocelli.
(you need to hear both versions). Gripping stuff.
Over the years I have been cheated by the Powers that be. Losing
so many good kids and friends almost needlessly it seems. Wrong
tire choice, brain freeze, (where there should not be one), another
rider acting stupid, broken coolant or oil lines, poles, unprotected
walls, a bridge, yes, I have seen it all. Each time I lose a little
more of the drive that keeps me going. Just not sure how much
more I can personally take.
My heart is broken into little pieces this time. Losing Jeremy
Steiner just a year ago this week (July 14th), and now Jamie is
pushing me harder than I have ever been pushed before. There has
to be a purpose, somewhere.
I would have traded places with anyone of them. I have lived a
long life and its been a wild ride at times, but, my kids, all
of them come first. My own two, Lindsy and Bryan would understand.
You guys are my family, have been for years. I look around and
wonder, why them, not me. Seems like a good deal. All these great
riders up at the Super Track in the great beyond and no coach!
There has to be a reason other than my job which is to pick up
the pieces, and try to hold you all together. Not an easy task
on a good day!
We'll all get together in the coming weeks at the services, funeral,
gatherings and of course at the race tracks. We'll remember Jamie
Bowman for what he was first! Our friend, and for me, one of my
kids....
We'll all talk about what a great rider and human being he was.
All true too! Did I mention very fast?
A lot of you who knew Jamie saw several sides to him. He was a
joker if he wanted to be. Loved a good laugh or to practice his
motorsports activities by jumping over a cow or two, (yes, I said
COW, on the Bowman Dairy Farm), but more importantly, he loved
his friends. He loved life itself.
Jamie came from a good family environment, full of motorsports
activities and the support of his Uncle Bill and dad Jim who always
made sure he had good equipment and was at the races. Just showing
up and being good does not make the whole package, hence the support
from the family.
That's what made Jamie run.... that and Uncle Bills barbeque,
world renowned I might add.
Recently, he met Donna, a delightful young lady, beautiful and
smart too! Jamie loved the whole package. He needed a career woman
in his life and found one. My heart goes out to this young lady...
her loss is one that she will never forget or want too. Jamie
used to love to rub me about her car, a white Trans AM convertible,
he knew I wanted one just like it. I let him run on with his shots.
Told him I would get him back when we built the Motorsports Complex.
He thought that would be fine, wanted to be the first one to race
me at the track. We agreed.
Someday... we'll all be together, but until then... what do we
do? How do we act? What is the right thing to say? Will we say
something foolish by mistake?
Of course, that's what makes us who we are. Racers, friends and
family. We'll hug, kiss, hug some more and yeah, we are gonna
cry. (There's the heart on the sleeve thing again). But, despite
being manly men and womanly women (my lady racers), we will cry
together. Its' okay, its' allowed. No one will call us babies.
Hey, when was the last time you saw a baby doing 160mph? Dancing
maybe, but not racing!
We'll go on... stumbling, but no one will notice, trust me. Sadly,
I've been there too many times before. The Lord willing there
will be no more!
I'm off to Mid-Ohio this weekend to make sure the Show Goes On!
On the way back I'll stop in St. Cloud, visit DJ's grave and let
him know that another kid is coming up to hang with the previous
inductees into God's version of the Hall of Fame.
Life is cruel when one of us leaves it early. There is never a
good reason, not in my eyes anyway. What's left? The future, and
what we make of it. For us, living is our agenda, making the best
of our world and the one we share with the slower folks. Be nice,
be fair, don't forget your loved one's... ever... remember our
hero's "they are gone but they will never be forgotten."
Thanks for the support of the Bowman family, me and each other.
We are unique, stay that way! Makes us the greatest group of racers
in the country, not to mention, some of the most talented and
as Jamie proved at New Hampshire three weeks ago, the fastest!
God Bless You All.
GODSPEED JAMIE!
I love you,
Joe McKay
A Dad's View from Bill Fisher, Roberts Dad
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