In Lieu of Racing

The last few months of ARX Racing have been cancelled due to rain. Here in Southern California, it is not typical to rain heavily year to year, however, we are in one of the wettest back to back rainy seasons since 2006, according to NOAA.

Each weekend, it has managed to rain enough so that the organization cancelled races at Glen Helen. April 14th was the date for the monthly race and it looked like rain, AGAIN! Luckily for the organization, one of the owners of Perris Raceway stepped in to help and offered the vet track to the organization for race day. I had hoped to race but had other callings. My aunt/cousin passed away in March to everyone's surprise. She was in her 70s and very active.

Cousin Carolynn, or auntie Carolynn as I have come to know our relationship, loved deeply, lived fully, and laughed hard—she made many laugh hard too. She is one of the daughters of my grandfather's oldest brother, so it at the generational level of an auntie. Growing up, I felt like she was one of my aunties. My mother's direct cousin.

Growing up in Alaska, it was hard to get to know her with our distance from Southern California. I wasn't able to really get to know her until I moved down here. She raced horses in gymkhana events.

Gymkhana is an equestrian event consisting of speed pattern racing and timed games for riders on horses. The event was later adapted to cars and other motorized vehicles. These days, Gymkhana can refer to equestrian or motorsport.

I spoke at her celebration of life and connected with family. She is an amazing lady who touched many lives and is dearly missed. She left me with these lessons, ironically, the LIVE-LAUGH-LOVE was who she was and she took absolutely no shit from anyone!

Live every day - no matter your age, stay active and have FUN.

Laugh a lot - there is only a story to tell if you can get up to a little something, maybe even mischief!

Love deeply, express it - she always stated her mind, she's a genuine soul. I felt love and acceptance from her every time.

She has inspired me for the short time that I have been alive. Thank you, cousin Carolynn, though you are more like an auntie to me. Though we never got to ride horses together, I knew she was having her fun, running up a heartbeat in the sun. I'll always remember her for that.