People mark time in different ways. I suppose most go by birthdays or holidays, but I've always hated both so I really don't use them as milestones. Instead for me it has been either about the end of the school year (when I was a student and professor), and/or the end of a sports season. Back when I was playing a lot of softball, I'd always get sad at the end of the season, as I loved playing so much. I can remember watching the world series for many years and often getting a bit misty eyed when the last out was registered, as I knew another year had passed.
And in fact I remember when my mom (a huge Padres fan) was ever so slowly wasting away from Parkinsons's disease, wondering if this baseball season would be the last one she would see/hear.
But times change, interests change, and lifes change. For the past 3 years I have become a rabid Formula 1 fan. It came on the heels of my 911 purchase, and has amplified as my own racing career has evolved. And during some of my most difficult and darkest nights, F1 races on Tivo lulled me to some calming sleep. I lost track of the number of times I watched some of the races. So yet another marker comes into being. Late October sees the last race of the season, this year a thrilling ride in San Paulo, Brazil.
For those that don't follow the sport, Michael Schumacher, now 37, is arguably the greatest driver ever. He is the highest paid athlete in the world (topping Tiger Woods), and owns almost every record in F1: most wins (90), most poles (68), most world championships (7), etc. Three races ago he announced that he would retire at the end of this season. The end of an era. And amazingly this season he fought back from a huge points deficit to tie his rival Fernando Aloso by winning at Shanghai. Suzuka however was not friendly, and MS saw his first Ferrari engine failure in a race since 2000. FA entered today's race with an almost insurmountable 10 point lead...MS would have to win and FA would have to finish 9th or worse for MS to win.
MS had a fuel pump problem in qualifying and started 10th. But when race day comes, you never count Michael out. He quickly moved up to 6th (and passing is *very* difficult in F1), and was battling FA's teammate for position. MS passed Fisichella, but then Fisi got into the back of Michael's car. And cut his tire. With his right rear tire losing air, his chances were deflating as well. Back to the pits for fuel and new tires, and he rejoined the race a lap down. And then put on a driving clinic, fighting back to 4th by the end of the race. And if he had a few more laps, he could have possibly gotten on the podium. Stunning race.
But at the end, it was in fact...the end. The end of the 2006 F1 season. And the end of the career of the most dominating driver in history. As Calvin and I watched the post race show with the obligatory retrospective video piece, we both had tears in our eyes. Evidently Calvin in fact is my son. Same sensitive streak. And same sadness over the end. As I tucked him in I told him that another season would be around the corner. And there would be other drivers. But in fact there will not be another Michael.
