Runners are friendly and gracious, but racing is serious business

Me too, me first - I was taking photos at the finish line at the Dam Mill 5K in Millsboro July 28. A young, fit guy battled a fluid, fit woman to the finish and neither was backing down. Luis Xavier Aguirre (20:29) got there first, winning by a second over Kristen Schaen (20:30). Both are 28 years old. I saw Luis later and asked, ”Do you know the woman you beat?” He said, “Yes, I know her.” “She’s a nice-looking person. Did you consider backing down as a chivalrous thing to do?” Luis said, “No, we are out here to race.” He then added, “Thanks for being out here taking photos of all the races. Your pictures are great.” Later in the race, Andrew Counts, 74, of Milton beat Debbie Rementer, 68, of Rehoboth Beach by three-tenths of a second. Debbie is the most pleasant of people and a cancer survivor. I joked to her, “That all counts for nothing; you signed up for a race and that is what you got.” Debbie smiled because she gets it and has a beagle named Quinn.  

Captain, my captain - I had a relaxing friendship with Capt. Dale Parsons and Capt. Speed, and I have always been solid with HD Parsons. I don't know what “gentry" means for a boat captain (comes from gentleman), but Dale and Speed had class like a sea of glass. “Calm as a dish,” mixing nautical with personality terms. I read Friday that Capt. Dale passed away, joining Speed in the Cape cove of irreplaceable characters. A few years ago, Dale ran into my truck in the Walmart parking lot. He was waiting for me when I came out. "I got her pretty good,” he said with a smile. “Take it to Richard [Perez] and let me know what it costs or he'll let me know." I said, “OK," knowing I'd take the total hit for Dale Parsons if necessary – I wasn't in his Lewes league – I was just grateful he was always so gracious toward me. I found a photo of captains Dale and Speed and also HD going out to sea to spread the ashes of Speed's wife Denise. Speed was in the wheelhouse holding the microphone eulogizing Denise, and after the ashes were spread, he said, “All I ask is that you don't go fishing for a while." Dale understood that the soul of man was spawned by the sea and would someday be returned. Friends of Dale and Speed should go out into the bay, then look back at the town of Lewes because that is the only view where one can get a sense of what they were all about. Godspeed Capt. Dale Parsons, you guys made Lewes lighter, less heavy, gravity not weighing us down, like a lunar landing into the Sea of Tranquility.

Alison and Ashlyn - The wave of sadness and grief washed over me as Alison Leigh Andrew and Ashlyn Andrew ran by, completing a Saturday morning 5K. The Freds have been there since losing son Tom in October 2017. I had a hard time getting back out there, just seeing people who wanted to help. One thing I remember is a person coming up and saying, “I know you've heard this from so many people but just want you to know how sorry I am." I'd answer, "I've heard it from so many people but I haven't heard it from you, so thank you." We get back out there and move on with memories close to the surface never forgetting Ryan and Elijah and Tom and all the others. The strength of the families is what pulls the community along with them.

“I grew up” - I was talking with Ben Bamforth and his friend Adam Moumen after the Dam Mill 5K. A pair of fit 25-year-old guys. They both went to Beacon, then Ben chose Sussex Tech for high school while Adam went to Appoquinimink. Adam said, “I spent a lot of time in your son's office in middle school. I had my troubles.” I spoke and Adam listened to all my words and philosophies. He got the essence of what I’m all about. He was paying attention to me. I said to him, “You don’t seem at all like a person who would have school problems.” And then he said, “I grew up.” All people are people of promise; sometimes we just have to wait for them to land opposite the field of wild oats.  

Snippets - Turning the Olympics into a celebrity showcase featuring hack reporters has alienated me. The entire presentation just lacks class. Cape football practice begins Monday, Aug. 5. My advice to athletes is to commit to what you are doing and allow yourself to be coached. Go on now, git!