Ah, The Race
When you’re feeling your lowest of lows, when separation from the one you love, elder care and the total lack of involvement and support from half of your siblings has got you down, nothing makes you forget your troubles like a nice glass of wine and an hour of The Amazing Race.
Amazing Race is the only reality show that gets me every time. I’ve become jaded enough to know when I’m being had, when a conflict feels too scripted, and when the participants are pouring it on for the cameras, but I still find it hugely entertaining.
One thing I’ve learned is that the racers are picked from categories: You always have a token older couple, two siblings who are just a little too close for comfort, a couple of Barbies, and a couple who have separated and are trying to reconnect by putting themselves through this kind of insanity and see if they come out stronger.
What fun.
Usually by the end of the first episode I know who I’m going to love and who I’m going to love to hate. The couple I fell in love with from the word “go” were Anita and Arthur, the two old bee-keeper hippies from Oregon. As they gave their all in the race to Brazil, Arthur said that their bees were less intense than their fellow racers. As they descended a 240-foot rope ladder and Arthur struggled to maintain his composure, he took a deep breath, decided that he was glad to be doing such a crazy thing with Anita, and accomplished the mission. Bravo, Arthur. Sadly, they were last to arrive at the Pit Stop, and they were eliminated. I’ll miss them.
On the hate side, I won’t use such a strong word on any of our lovely couples. But Ken and Tina? They’re separated, and trying to somehow reconcile through this race. Ken cheated on Tina, apparently. I know why.
Sunday nights are fun again.
*Edited from its previous version to acknowledge the fact that two of my siblings are indeed involved with the elder care. Didn’t mean to tar all four of you with the same brush.
