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[4manracing]

Sam,

We were sad to hear about Arlyn's passing. Know that your family is in our prayers. I always enjoyed my conversations with her....you are lucky to have someone on your team like that.
Brad and Liz Foreman

[Sam Strano]

Everyone:

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It's been pretty strange not being able to talk to her. Mom did all the books on top of helping customers, and then at night was a great friend. So not only have I lost my Mom, and someone I talked to daily (often more than once or twice), but I've also lost huge cog in this wheel. Things are different to be sure, and it's hard to have picked up on her jobs as well as my own. This is why I don't sometimes seem to "be around" as much because I'm working my butt off to just try and get everything done and pay the bills. Not helped by slow economic times either.

I wouldn't wish what I and my Dad and sister have had to go through on anyone. We were there at the end and it was pretty horrific. I'm pretty sure I'll never be exactly the same again. I'm still a bit numb.

We're just trying muddle though and hope time will heal the personal wounds. On the business side I don't expect to go anywhere, and am in no danger of going out of business. However, I've had to slightly review how I work. I feel it's important to spend time on the phones, but I'm having to try and keep conversations a bit shorter to just try and fit everything I can into a day. That will only get worse as I start to race more through the summer.

Mom really liked talking to folks, and that's what she missed most about not being here. She was aware of you guys thinking about her, I'd tell her and she had some 'net access and could see that folks were worried. That meant a lot to her, and to me.

Thanks.

[CrashTestDummy]

That 'lack of presence' is a very eerie feeling. When they are alive, you know in the deep recesses of your mind that they are 'there'. When they are gone, you get this empty feeling almost like their life-force is gone from your side. It will pass, as I have almost lost that feeling from my Mom, and she passed away almost 20 years ago. The feeling from my Dad is slipping, but still there. He's been gone 7 years. It will get better, but yeah, you are a changed person, if you aren't, you are not really a whole person, IMHO.

You'll get there, one day at a time. It WILL get better. Trust me, I've been there.

[ESPCamaro]

Everyone:

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It's been pretty strange not being able to talk to her. Mom did all the books on top of helping customers, and then at night was a great friend. So not only have I lost my Mom, and someone I talked to daily (often more than once or twice), but I've also lost huge cog in this wheel. Things are different to be sure, and it's hard to have picked up on her jobs as well as my own. This is why I don't sometimes seem to "be around" as much because I'm working my butt off to just try and get everything done and pay the bills. Not helped by slow economic times either.

I wouldn't wish what I and my Dad and sister have had to go through on anyone. We were there at the end and it was pretty horrific. I'm pretty sure I'll never be exactly the same again. I'm still a bit numb.

We're just trying muddle though and hope time will heal the personal wounds. On the business side I don't expect to go anywhere, and am in no danger of going out of business. However, I've had to slightly review how I work. I feel it's important to spend time on the phones, but I'm having to try and keep conversations a bit shorter to just try and fit everything I can into a day. That will only get worse as I start to race more through the summer.

Mom really liked talking to folks, and that's what she missed most about not being here. She was aware of you guys thinking about her, I'd tell her and she had some 'net access and could see that folks were worried. That meant a lot to her, and to me.

Thanks.

I was just going to call up to see how things are going.......I don't call much because of all the stuff that I've been with here, but I still wondered how things were.....I went to your site and read the news. I cried. She was a sweet lady....And must have been a good mom too. I'd like to call and see how your hangin' in there but I'm no good at putting words together in a situation like you guys have been through. My prayers are with you. If you want give me a call and I can hook you up with a talk with Crystal's father..He is a pastor and may be able to ease the numbness a little..

Hang in there buddy

[poSSum]

My condolences to you and your family Sam.

[25thRallySport]

“You can shed tears that she is gone,
or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what she'd want:
smile, open your eyes, love and go on.”

Prayers are with you and yours!

[jpastorius]

Add me to the list of condolences to you and your family, Sam. Your mother was a wonderful person. I always enjoyed talking to her on the phone and she was so proud of you. We spoke last fall and even with her illness, she was cheerful and very helpful. She will be missed by us all.

[Houston]

Sam,
I'm so sorry to hear about your mom. I loved talking to her everytime I called. She will be missed.
Good luck with everything. My dad died last summer. It takes a while to grieve and build a new normal for our lives after we lose a loved one.
Walter

[BrianChevy]

Sam.
My condolences in the loss of your mom. I didn't know anything at all about her latest setbacks and I hadn't visited this site in quite a while. While at dinner on Saturday night with some DoubleCross drivers I was told, and I am so sad.

Your mom remembered me every time I called, she was super friendly, super nice and always wanted to help me get the car running and "get out there!". She will be missed by the solo community just as though she was a member of our families, because she was....

Brian in Atlanta

[DavidDymaxion]

I only spoke with her once, but I remember how she said the crowd would get quiet when Sam would run at Nationals, because everyone wanted to see what he was doing on course. That is something I would like to see myself someday.

I recently ordered brake pads and certainly would have understood if they had taken a while, but they showed up quickly, thanks Sam. They are already on the car (along with new hubs and disks), and I'll enjoy fully testing them on Memorial Day. While I have enjoyed talking with Sam and his Stranoparts crew directly, I was glad to see I could order the parts directly on the web now. I'd also suggest just announcing a default shipping method unless the customer specifies otherwise (that can just be in the comments, doesn't have to be a custom web form), and then you can eliminate follow-up calls to arrange shipping.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It's been pretty strange not being able to talk to her. Mom did all the books on top of helping customers, and then at night was a great friend. So not only have I lost my Mom, and someone I talked to daily (often more than once or twice), but I've also lost huge cog in this wheel. Things are different to be sure, and it's hard to have picked up on her jobs as well as my own. This is why I don't sometimes seem to "be around" as much because I'm working my butt off to just try and get everything done and pay the bills. Not helped by slow economic times either.

I wouldn't wish what I and my Dad and sister have had to go through on anyone. We were there at the end and it was pretty horrific. I'm pretty sure I'll never be exactly the same again. I'm still a bit numb.

We're just trying muddle though and hope time will heal the personal wounds. On the business side I don't expect to go anywhere, and am in no danger of going out of business. However, I've had to slightly review how I work. I feel it's important to spend time on the phones, but I'm having to try and keep conversations a bit shorter to just try and fit everything I can into a day. That will only get worse as I start to race more through the summer.

Mom really liked talking to folks, and that's what she missed most about not being here. She was aware of you guys thinking about her, I'd tell her and she had some 'net access and could see that folks were worried. That meant a lot to her, and to me.