Carolyn Brewster: A NASCAR race or a Broadway musical? A fair compromise
The crowd watches as Jeff Burton's crew makes a pit stop at Dover. Some people love going to NASCAR races; others prefer Broadway musicals. // LaDon George, NASCAR Illustrated
FAN COMMENTARY
I’ve always viewed NASCAR as a sport, a past time, an obsession. But never have I thought of it as a bargaining chip until I met Nancy recently.
Nancy is not a NASCAR fan. She has deplored it since the day ten years ago that her husband “just decided out of nowhere” that he was most definitely a fan. Nancy would rather get a root canal than go to a race.
At first glance, when analyzing the situation, I felt badly for Nancy’s husband. Seriously. I can’t imagine what it would be like if my spouse didn’t share the same passion for trackside antics that I do. But, digging a bit further, I realize that Nancy’s husband took her disdain for his favorite sport and turned it into a positive.
My marriage requires a few fairly insignificant compromises. For example, my husband is obsessed with his home espresso maker, whereas my coffee fix can only be fulfilled with a trip to our local donut shop. Neither of us can convert the other to our java preferences, so we tend to drink our morning cup alone. I don’t complain about all the space the machine takes up on my kitchen counter and he never criticizes me for driving to town to buy something I can make myself.
Like our coffee compromise, Nancy’s husband negotiated a bit of a compromise of his own.
Since Nancy has no desire to experience a NASCAR weekend, her husband promises never to ask. Here’s the catch. Nancy’s beloved musicals are now hers and hers alone. She exchanged dragging her husband to the theater for choruses of “Bye, Bye, Birdie” and “Pirates of Penzance” for the security of knowing she will never be obligated to attend a NASCAR race. It’s a win-win situation for both.
Who knew NASCAR could be such a powerful bargaining chip?
Whether buying coffee, hitting the track or watching a musical, its far more fun to bring a companion along that actually wants to be there.
So until Rodgers and Hammerstein write a Broadway musical about a race-car driver or the cast of “Cats” performs the prerace concert, I think this compromise is a success.
