Amy's MI-5

Amy writes, Many of you know- I am a NASCAR fan...and this weekend is the Daytona 500!!! During any auto race- NASCAR including- flags of different colors are displayed along a track and mean different things. This MI-5 is based on some of those flags but answers do not have to be race related at all....(I will omit the two most well known flags- the green and the checker).

1. The Black Flag- also known to some as the consultation flag- is waved at a driver for various reasons but means that the driver must pull into the pits. Most of the time the driver is called to the pits to take care of extensive damage on the car or to take care of any penalties that may be incurred. Tell us about a time you had to deal with a penalty of some sort or of a time you had to take a time out to fix something right away.
Once I fell down the stairs in my house. When I noticed my right foot was sort of 'hanging' on the end of my leg, I knew I was about to take some "time out" to fix something. In actuality, I was at the total mercy of someone else to fix something.

2. The Yellow Flag is sometimes called the caution flag. When this flag waves it alerts a driver that there is something wrong on the track and they should slow down and fall in line behind the pace car. Tell us about a time you slowed down your pace.
I moved to Maine! I moved from the Northern Virginia area where almost everyone drove into Washington DC for work. It was the most chaotic place where everyone moves and lives their lives at incredible speed. I like the slower pace of Maine much better.

3. The Blue Flag with Orange Diagonal, known as the courtesy flag is the only "optional" flag in racing. This flag alerts a driver that he (or she) is holding up traffic- specifically the leaders- and that they should be courteous and move over to let the leaders continue to race. While this flag is optional- officials and fellow racers will look down upon anyone who repeatedly ignores it. Tell us about an experience where you let someone take the lead even though you really wanted it or about a time someone gave you the lead in something.
Interesting ... Well, I remember when I first became a 'station officer' in the fire service. I was put in charge of a building, several trucks, and a crew of 5 men ... plus whatever happened to them during emergency situations. It was a pretty heavy responsibility. Probably most stressful was the responsibility I felt for the lives of the men who were in some cases 'risking their lives' for others in need.

4. Red Flag means all activity on the track must come to a stop. This is usually done because of poor weather or a a lot emergency vehicles on the track. Drivers must line up according to position in the designated area (usually on track or in the pits), Crew members are not allowed to work on the cars during this time. Depending on the length or the red flag drivers are often allowed to get out of the car if parked on pit road. Tell us about a time when everything stopped for you.
It seemed the world stopped turning when my father died. Dealing with the death of a parent is disabling because it demands an immediate emotional response. I couldn't do anything but sit down and cry. I was SO red-flagged in life for a time. It was quite literally "THE PITS" for a while there.

5. When the White Flag is thrown during a race, it signals to all drivers that they are entering the last lap of the race. What is something you are almost done with?
I am currently building a bathroom in my house. Can't really say I am "almost done", but the hardest part is over and I feel like I'm on the last lap. The final 'straight-away' is almost in view and the crowd is cheering ... that would be my wife. Can't wait for the 'victory donut' !