Special Olympics Summer Games 2005 (Warning - very disconnected)

[zerogirl29]

Well, I will not likely forget this weekend anytime soon. Wednesday night my mom called me begging for Adam and I to chaperone Ricardo's weekend trip to Richmond for his Special Olympics meet because they didn't have anyone except the teachers. I had volunteered at a few one day events before, but never anything like this. Adam was OK with it, so after my final in sucky plant class and work, we hopped into the car and drove to Richmond. The Robins center was PACKED with people. It wasn't just Track, there were swim, softball, powerlifting, tennis, and bowling teams. The following morning we started bright and early with breakfast and standing out in the sun while we handed kids off to their Buddies to spend the day. At one point I got the chance to chat with one of the volunteer shuttle bus drivers, and it just made me jump fr joy. She said that her county has people on waiting lists to volunteer every year for SO, and that you can't be considered if you've missed more than 5 days of work per year! It was so heart warming to hear that. Not much to say about the meet itself - it was way too hot and I got slightly burned - except that Ricardo did FABULOUSLY and made me hurt my throat cheering. He surprises me more and more each day. He's not only grown a lot, deepened his voice, and started regularly shaving, but he can RUN so much better at each race! He came in last by about 15 seconds in his 200m (they did NOT put him with a good group!), but the boy just pushed on and kept going faster and faster until he crossed the finsih line. He didn't even stop to see who was cheering for him like he usually does. Oh I gave him the biggest hug when he was through. And the other kids did great, too. Lauren attached herself to me for the weekend and started calling me her older sister. Then she broke the news that she had a huge crush on Adam to me once she was on my good side. =) And JD has got to be the sweetest boy I have ever met in my entire life. His smile is so warm and friendly I just want to give him a bug hug every time! The girl I roomed with turned out to be very sweet as well, though she was slooooooow when it came to walking. Funny how a little girl could hustle so much on the track and then loose a race with a turtle when it came to walking to dinner. The kids got free hearing and sight screenings, new prescription glasses (if they were needed), haircuts, ice cream, Hardee's lunch, Rock walls to climb, moonbounces, a petting zoo - you name it, it was at their disposal this weekend. Saturday after our long long day, we got to go to the closing ceremony dance at night and then have a pizza party in the dorm. It was great to just hang out with all of them. They are very unique individuals and I wish I could remove the labels that will get slapped on them the minute they finish school.

I must say, I'm not so sure that this whole ecology or primatology thing is right for me anymore. I may love to study it, but none of that gives me the satisfaction that this weekend did. At least I finished the minor and hopefully do something with that!

Adam ended up loving it, too. I couldn't be happier right now. =)