There are times in life when even your dreams can be outdone by what really unfolds. It is with great pleasure that I relate this tale of irony. May you be inspired by its joyful ending.

Let me begin by taking you back to an experience I had as a Cub Scout. I was 8 and it was the day before the annual Pinewood Derby. We had been instructed to design a race car from a small block of wood and then, race it against my fellow scouts at the derby. Trophies would be given to the fastest, most creative, funniest, etc.

My dad, bless his heart, had all the right intentions when he helped me that evening and after working on the project with limited wood carving tools, my car looked like, well, nothing to write home about. We ended up painting it with some enamel left over from a shelf he had made for my mom: pink.

So there we went, to the Pinewood Derby. Funny thing is, I didn’t think my car looked bad. I liked it. That was, until I saw all the others. Can you say, ”Batmobile?” Is it possible to feel proud and embarrassed at the same time?

I did.

We came home with nothing more than our pride and a pink car.

History repeats itself

Years later, history repeated itself, sort of. Once again it was the night before the annual Pinewood Derby. This time, I was the dad and I was determined to give it our best shot.

My son, Bono and I decided to go for funny instead of fast. After searching the web for ideas, Bono chose the Oscar Meyer ”Wienermobile.”

Excellent choice! 6-year-olds and I think alike.

It ended up being a family project. Our older son, Joe, helped with details and every few minutes Bono would run to get Mom’s approval. After much carving, sanding, and painting, (This time, I made sure we had the right tools.) we were finished. If I do say so, we had done a pretty darned good job.

We named it “The Lamborweenie”.

Bono liked it. That’s all that mattered. And, no one would be embarrassed.

It was with great pride that we all walked into the St. George School gym. The same electricity I had experienced as a boy was in the air and the excitement in Bono’s eyes told me how special this was.

Suddenly, I was a Cub Scout all over again.

We checked in and Bono placed his car next to all the others. Most had been built for speed. After all, this was a race.

His group was the first to compete and you can imagine the looks on our faces when the “Lamborweenie” won the first heat, and the next, and the next!

With every win, our family laughed with disbelief.

Now, there were only 3 cars left. Two of them looked like race cars. The third was shaped like a weenie.

The weenie won.

Without meaning to, we had built the fastest car in my son’s division!

On the way home, Bono read the inscription over and over, “First Place – Division Champion.”

He held it tightly in his right hand. In his left hand was his other trophy, which read, “Funniest Car.”

When life gives you another chance, take it!

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