Institutionalized: 1940

Meeting Max at the Vancouver Indy

It has been a few weeks since we received Max's letter. The Vancouver Indy is coming to the city in a few days. The construction of the track continues. The track and stands are nearly complete. Greg and I are getting excited to see our friends and meet Max for the first time. Greg is starting to get nervous.

We see our friends on Friday. He is nervous to see Max again. I am getting excited to meet another one of Greg's friends. After the race we will be organizing our trip to California. We are getting excited for that trip too.

Today is the day we are seeing everyone. Ric picked us up as usual on race weekends. We appreciate it. We always tell him. His response is always the same. He says that it was not a big deal to help. Once we arrived at the track, Dario and Ashley came up to the car first. They told us to close our eyes, so we did. They told us that they would lead us to where the others are because they had a surprise for us. Greg had an idea of what the surprise was, but Dario would not tell him if he was correct. The anticipation of the surprise was driving Greg and I crazy. They told us that they were very close to where our surprise was waiting. Once they told us that we were in the paddock, they told us that we could open our eyes. Max was standing there. Once Greg saw Max, he ran towards Max. Both of them hugged. They were so happy to see one another. Both of them had tears in their eyes. Max was shocked to see Greg because he would never imagine his friend having challenges to overcome. Greg told Max that it was because of me. When Greg said that, I felt my face turn red and it felt hot. I felt embarrassed. Then Dario told me that I should not be embarrassed by a kind comment, I told Dario that he was right. It is the truth that it was me. That helped Greg in his time of need. Also that I treated him with respect. After awhile, we started talking about how our year is going. Also if there was any plans for the rest of the year.

After a bit, the guys had to leave for practice. The practice session was 45 minutes long after the practice session, we started talking about tomorrow which was qualifying. The guys started to get all riled up about who was going to be on pole position. We told them that either of them would do. All of them stopped talking about qualifying. We told them to wait and see how qualifying goes tomorrow. Once the day ended, we said our goodbyes then we headed home. Once at home,we could not stop thinking about the next day. We thought that qualifying would be interesting as it always is.

Today is Saturday. It is qualifying day. Once we arrived at the track, Ashley met us. She told us that the guys were getting ready for qualifying. We went to find a seat to watch qualifying. Once qualifying started, the guys were in the core of consentration. Max was up first.he had the time to beat. Then it was tony's turn, after him it was Dario. After Dario's time, it was Tag's shot. After Tag it was Patrick's turn, after him it was Zanardi's turn. Once all our friends were done qualifying, everyone else qualified. After everyone was done qualifying, the results were in. Dario had pole. Tag was second. Max was third. Patrick was fourth. Tony was fifth. Finally the drivers that are our friends, Zanardi was sixth. All the other drivers are behind him. Tomorrow's race will be interesting. Max was saying that he would want to win the race for Greg. Greg felt honoured that another great friendwants to win for him. Once the day ended, we were really excited for the race the next day. Once we were home, we were too excited to sleep. We went to bed and slept anyway.

The next morning, we were really excited that we could not wait for Ric to pick us up to go to the track. Once Ric arrived, we were happy just to go to the track. Once we arrived at the track, Ashley met us and we went to find a seat to watch the race.

Once the race started, it became obvious that Max really wanted to win. During the first 50 laps, Max was in second behind Dario. About 100 laps latter, after a pit stop Max had the lead of the race. About 50 laps later, it was the final pit stop. Max's lead was about two car lengths, so he was able to get in and out of the pit lane quickly. The race is nearing its end. Max is still leading the race. There are about 15 laps to go. Dario is still behind Max in second place. Tony is behind Dario in third. Zanardi is behind him in fourth and Tagliani is in fifth. At the moment, Max, Dario, and Tony will be on podium. there are now five laps to go. Max is still leading the race and Dario is still behind him. Now behind Dario is Tagliani and Tony is behind Tag. Zanardi is behind Tagliani. The race is nearly over. There are only five laps to go. Max is still leading the race and has a great chance at winning the race. The other two drivers that will be on podium is not for certain because between Greg's friends it could be any of them. Dario is now right close to Max. Max is trying to keep Dario from passing him. So far, he is suceeding. The last lap flag just flew. There is the running order to the drivers that are our friends: Max, Dario, Tony, Tagliani, and Zanardi are the top 5. the race just ended and Max suceeded in his promise to win the race for Greg.

On the podium, the three drivers are Max who won the race, Dario who is second. Finally, the third place finisher was Tony. We were invited to go down to victory circle because we were friends. Once in victory circle, the press was all over Max for winning the race. Max told the press that his win was for his friend Greg who could not race anymore due to a severe brain injury he suffered while fighting in the Second World War then the press asked Greg to come over because he was a decorated war hero. I went along as well because I was his wife. Greg felt embarrassed to talk to the press about his experience during the Battle of Britain. Most of what he could remember was being up in the air then getting shot down. Everything after that is a blur except when he met me and all those memories are still fresh in his mind. After the press left to speak to the other drivers, Max apologized for embarrassing Greg. Max was sorry that he even brought it up. Greg thanked Max for the apology. Then Max brought me aside and asked me how Greg was in public, if he heard anyone talk about the war. I told Max that Greg felt proud for serving, but did not like people asking him questions about what had happened. I told Max that the war was a sensitive subject for Greg. Max understood then we went back to join the others to celebrate.

Once we caught up with the rest of our friends, we were asked by the others why we were lagging behind. We told them what had happened regarding the press and Max talking about a sensitive subject which was the war. The rest of the guys understood because some of them fought in the war as well. Dario understood clearly because he fought along side Greg. The one thing the others do not understand is that the time spent in the institution. I understand with the experience as that is where we met. The institution made our confidence and self worth disappear. After the war, Greg and I had to learn how to trust again. The other were surprised because our personalities now are out going. We told them it took us months to truch anyone new. It has been almost 15 years since the war ended. That gave us plenty of time to gain our confidence back and trust others again. They were so impressed at us that Max decided to give a toast to us for being great friends and live in a fantastic city for racing. We felt honoured. Greg then whispered in my ear that we should give a toast to our friends for an exciting race and to toast the winners.

After the toast to our friends, max announced to the others that Greg and I will be heading to California for a trip to meet up with Max. The guys thought it was cool. We told them that we have not made the final plans. They thought that it will be a good trip. They also announced that next season they will be going to have a race at California Speedway, which is the same track Max mentioned in the letters he sent. The guys did mention that they did race the day that Greg had his massive crash. Next year's race they all will think of Greg. We then asked when the California race would be. Dario spoke up and said it will be the weekend of September 15. We told them that Greg and I will coordinate our trip around that date.

After the celebratory dinner and talking about nexr season even though this current season is not complete until October, we said our good night and good bye. After all the kind gestures of good luck next race, we got Ric to pick us up to bring us home. Once we arrived home, Greg and I were so tired, we just wanted to sleep. We had a very exciting day. We were so exhausted, we wanted to sleep in our clothes, but with the little strength we had, we put our pajamas on. Once in bed, we fell asleep instantly. In the morning, we just said to one another at the same time "What a great day we had yesterday!"