Howdy do!!!!
We had another successful Dead encounter trip this year. Sheila and I were staying
at All Star Movies and Bart was staying at All Star Sports so we decided to walk
toward each another for our Friday adventure. At the very moment we met,Yvonne Foo
came walking out of All Star Music. We talked for a minute before Yvonne caught a
bus for the Expo, where she was volunteering.
Animal Kingdom was a lot of fun as Bart has previously reported. However he failed
to tell the list how he lured Sheila and I onto our first ever ride on the Kali
river rapids. Being a veteran of the ride, he assured us we were properly dressed.
Even though we had our Maid of the Mist raincoats in our backpacks(left over
souvenirs from Dave and Eileen Lawrence's 10k races) we followed Bart to our doom.
Bart got in first and took the only seat that would stay dry, while he steered us
to the submarine seats. Sheila and I stayed dry for the first ten seconds then
only the two of us got soaked by a geiser. More water here and more water there
and then Bart's eye's popped open. I turned to see what he was looking at and
when I turned back I had to spit out a mouthful of the river. I thought Bart would
pass out from lack of oxygen because he was laughing so hard at two drowned rats.
We managed to dry out in time for the Friday night encounter where we had a great
time as always. The McDonough's know how to throw a party. Around 25 Deads showed
up with some new blood along for the ride. I haven't met a Dead I didn't like.
Race day started at the Dead tent where we met Bart, Dave,Tom,Colleen,Butch and
another very nice lady whose name is lost to my CRS. We wore our usual white tyvek
overalls which I made to look like Dalmatians with the help of a large magic marker.
I had put a hidden Mickey on my back and two runners came up from behind us and
were proud of themselves for finding the hidden Mickey. Two Deads ran by us and
told us their names but some where along the way I forgot them (sorry). Wendy
Dawson passed us in Epcot and Rick (the perfect 11) passed us on the way into the
Magic Kingdom. Eileen Lawrence and friend passed us by the Grand Floridian and
Mr. and Mrs. Druckenmiller were waiting at the finish line to give us our Donalds.
Our goals this year were simple, 1st to just finish and second to try and look as
cute a Bill and Ellen for the cameras. Well one out of two isn't bad.
Sunday night bragathon was a good time to relax and meet our buds like Adam,Lou,
Bart,brother Mark and the rest of the gang.Bart already told you of our high
adventure trip back to our respective motels, which should warn people that to
travel with us is like traveling with Henry Thoreau except we don't take the least
traveled path, instead we go where none have gone before.
We are now trying to decide which race to do nextyear,half or full?
I will finish with the must memorable moment of our trip. As I entered the
transportation center during the race I spot a 3 or 4 year old girl sitting on
her father's shoulders holding a sign that read "Thanks team in training -
from a survivor".
Stan Sosnowski
