Day 60 and Dancing Naked

Have you ever noticed how something can start out as fun and end up feeling like you're strapped across a table with a buzz saw moving ever closer?

Illustration: www.peteraschwanden.com
in "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive"

A simple question from Carol, "How's the MG coming along?" prodded me to sit down recently and sketch out a project plan. Starting to sound like work already. With less than two months to go, we counted up the estimated time for each identified task, applied Murphy's Law by multiplying it times 1.5, added the "Gintar Factor" which uses an arcane geometric formula that roughly doubles the estimate, and discovered the car will be ready on the Fourth of July. Too bad the rally starts 4th of June. Houston, we have a problem!



At times like this, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Task C can't be addressed until tasks A and B are completed. But A has gotten lost in the mail, or has been delayed by a strike, a civil insurrection, or the arrest of a key employee on illegal immigration charges. The school bus driver who was willing to do some welding has come down with the flu. The machinist has left for Indianapolis and a hot rod convention. We don't usually have earthquakes in Michigan, but who knows what might happen next? I don't usually ask people to give money to an important cause, either.

Nevertheless, CURE Childhood Cancer is an important cause. And I'm asking.

Children diagnosed with cancer have nowhere to turn with their unspoken confusion, nor do their parents with their shock and sorrow. There are many places worthy of your charitable giving. I hope you'll consider CURE to be one of them.

I wanted this rally to be more than just an adventure. I wanted it to be about something that matters. Kids who have been diagnosed with cancer matter. Investing in research and treatment matters. Giving people a chance at life matters.

My motivation comes from the unexpected donations I see accumulating at MG Drive for CURE.
I can't sufficiently thank those of you who have already donated-- and those of you who may still. I watch the your generosity add up and I know I can't let you down.

Carol's come up with a plan: No more movies, no more home brewing, no more coffee down at Pierce's on Saturday mornings. I intend to work all day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from now until "dress rehearsal" toward the end of May, pray that each outsourced job is completed on time, and-- to ward off Mr. Murphy-- dance naked around a candle once a week paying my respects to leprechauns, the ghosts of Abingdon, and Lithuanian forest spirits looking to create mischief.

Note to self:

• Talk to boss about every Friday as vacation time.
• Warn neighbors about mysterious candlelight in garage. 

As Friends say, hold me in the Light.