Imagine walking down into your basement and discovering that it was flooded... for more than a week. Add the realization that just a week earlier you had moved all your family photos -- and I mean all of them -- your parents baby photos -- your childhood photos -- those of your children -- your high school prom pictures -- wedding photos -- honeymoon memories and more. Now add to that an extensive collection of racing memorabilia gathered during a 20-year racing career span; personalized photos from Mario Andretti (when you raced with him), Dan Gurney's autograph on a photo from the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix (which he won in a car of his own design), Rick Mears signature on a limited edition piece of art produced after his 4th Indy 500 win... the list goes on... like pictures of family friend Dave Brown, a NASA astronaut who lost his life aboard shuttle Columbia. Lifetimes of memories ruined because of a dog's desire to trench along a wall -- during a snow storm -- I can't make this stuff up. Here's my wonderful bride, trying to peel, separate, save, thousands of photos (spread along every piece of available real estate inside our home):



They're everywhere...



Besides the photos, I had 20+ years worth of qualifying and race results, test notes, and other assorted race-related documents (including the only copy of Honda's "secret" Indy test of 1968 performed with one of their F1 cars that had just competed in the Mexico Grand Prix).



Here's a photo of Paul Page, NASA astronaut Dave Brown, and myself, while we were broadcasting for ABC/ESPN at an IndyCar race in Texas. Dave decided to film the entire shuttle Columbia crew experience and was gaining insight from our ABC staff. I pulled him into the broadcast booth because the IndyCar drivers at this particular race were having serious issues with the high g loading. Dave, being both a doctor and a fighter pilot, spoke on air about the physiological issues of high g stress as it relates to human performance.



While walking through all the drying photos I came across a few that I had forgotten I had. I'm often asked if I ever get to drive any more. Here's the quick answer; sometimes I get to sneak away from Wilsonville Honda and drive some fairly cool race cars. Here's a shot of me in a Formula 2 car:



And my partner's Brabham Formula 1 car:


Speaking of my partner John Dimmer, here he is as we chat about my impressions of his Brabham:



I'm nut sure what I said to get John's face to look like that... but it must have been good!

Although my wife and I were saddened by the loss of so many photos, pieces of art, and other documents, it was a reminder that it's all just stuff. As the days passed and we continued to sort through the wreckage looking for what we could save, it occurred to us both that if all this stuff was so important, why was it in the basement in the first place?! You can't take it with you. Love one another and get rid of the "stuff" in your life.