Don't believe in celebrities, just celebrations

I don’t believe in celebrities but I’m all about celebrations. Last Friday morning I dropped in on the Blockhouse Pond mile walk/run or sit and skip then sit some more one-lap celebration of the day, the brainchild of Tommy Coveleski, organized flawlessly and enthusiastically by the satellite staff of the Sussex Consortium. The Fred Thomas Campus is another hidden jewel of the Cape school district as are most of the locations and virtually all staff members. I know there are lots of kids who need special assistance and help, and that parents have to work extra hard to manage and blend these children into “up and running” families. “The mentoring program at the high school has sent us great kids, compassionate and smart, and it’s just inspiring for everyone,” said Steve Neiblas before last week’s Walk-Race for Autism Delaware. Many of those same students were hand in hand buddies for the Blockhouse Pond mile and lots of teachers and aides all smiling not looking for dark corner downtime and a place to drink black coffee. Confidentiality is a constant when dealing with special children, and it takes all kinds of signatures for permission to publish names and more to identify the affliction. Just imagine if every time your name was published it included a size of a garment and your nickname “Pier 40” or listed your renewable prescription medications. I can mention that my grandson Davey has Down syndrome, and his teacher Amanda and the rest of the staff love Davey and he has made great strides but walked most of the race more interested in his latest digital handheld device just like the rest of us.

Life of Riley - I know Riley Wagner, at least who she is, but last Saturday everywhere I went there she was, except I was stationary and she was moving. I saw her at the mud run; she asked if she would make her JV lacrosse game at Cape which started at 11 and I told her most definitely not. Then later I went to cover lacrosse. and there she was running around with a mask and stick and putting shots on goal. I took her picture after each event and she didn’t rock the girlie persona on me even after the lacrosse game; her hair was still caked with mud, which I thought was glitter.

Medals of honor - Tim Bamforth’s Milton mud run 4.5-mile course design was proof to me that the veteran race director and longtime special friend and former athlete of mine has totally gone off the deep end. I rode on the back of a four-wheeler with Tim prior to the start, and after five minutes of explanations while fearing for my life I told Tim, “I stopped listening to you four minutes ago. This looks crazy! People may die out here. When a ditch gets wet, construction workers get out; no one crawls belly down through muddy waters unless bullets are flying overhead or they’re an extra in a Burt Reynolds movie.” “We’re coming to get you, gator!” And I told anyone who cared to listen, “If I were doing this, I would cheat every time everyone took their eyes off me, just like in my high school physics final.

Snippets - Don’t forget the Good Friday kite festival at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes. You know your life is out of control when you’re flying a giant farm animal high above the great Atlantic coastal plain while screaming at your kids, ”Get away - go get your own pink pig! Yes, I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley!” Go on now, git!