It was a hot, smoldering Saturday in Talladega. The type of day where your clothes stick to you from sweating so much. We have been going to the races in Talladega twice a year for many years and have really enjoyed it. Times have definitely changed in that we used to camp in tents and now we must camp in a travel trailer or else none of us would be able to move the next day. We used to camp out in the free campgrounds and now we have reserved spots in the family campground where they control the noise level. If we all can't get our rest we are ill and fussy the next day. Funny how times change!
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The guys wanted to go to the Saturday race but me and Kim, my partner in crime at 'Dega, wanted to go shopping so we passed on the race. We waited for all the traffic to die down and the race to get under way when she and I headed out hiking to the trailers where all the merchandise is sold.
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By the time we arrived at the trailers we were both huffing and puffing so bad it wasn't even funny! The air was stale and hot and when you could finally catch a decent breath it was full of an awful smell that was somewhat of a mix of beer, port-o-potties, italian sausages and hot dogs. That is a smell that you absolutely never forget! It lingers in your nostrils for days and even lingers after you get home!
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As we rounded the trailers the crowd wasn't too bad. We shopped for a little bit and then found a shade underneath one of the trailers and thought that was a perfect spot to sit and rest. As we sat down we both sat in silence just looking around and taking in all the sights. I looked up and saw this huge thing flying over the track. It had Goodyear printed on the side and just kept a steady course right above the traffic.
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"What are those things called?" I asked Kim while pointing up toward this unidentified flying object.
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"What?" she asked.
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"That gray thing, right there, flying above the track. What is that called? I know it's not a hot air balloon but I can't think of what they are called!" I said in a frustrated tone.
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She giggled and said "Ummmm.....they are called.....ummmmm.....I can't think of it!"
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At this point we were both laughing so hard we could barely breathe when I got the bright idea to call my Daddy. See, my Daddy knows everything as far as I am concerned so I pulled out my cell phone, dialed my parents' number and waited. My Mom answered the phone and I quickly asked for my Daddy. She told me he had gone to the store so I just proceeded to ask her my question.
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"You know those things that fly around over stadiums and tracks and stuff? What are they called?" I asked.
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"I don't know" she said "What are they called?"
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"No, Mother, this isn't a joke....I'm serious....me and Kim are sitting here looking at one and can't think of what they are called....come on....be serious...what is it?" I said more persistently.
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About that time a shadow loomed over us and the breath of a drunken woman said "You talking about that blimp right there?"
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"A blimp!" I exclaimed. "That's it!"
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I quickly got off the phone with my Mom and by this time Kim was all but laying on the ground laughing. As we finished up our shopping trip we both would randomly start laughing and shaking our heads back and forth and say "blimp" and then laugh even harder. I know that people around us the rest of the weekend thought she and I had lost our minds. To this day, when I see a blimp, I burst out laughing and when I tell the story, somehow, others don't think it is that funny.
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You know one day the skies will open and there will be a sight for all to see. Matthew 24:30 says " ...the Son of Man will appear in the sky...They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory." Will you know what you are looking at when that day comes? Will you recognize the Son of Man as Jesus, your Savior? If not, why not? All it takes is one call...to Jesus..."...if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9
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