does THE AMAZING RACE have to count as a reality tv show? it is so UNFAIR to suggest it is on par with THE BACHELORETTE or i’m a celebrity, get me out of here.

it is such a great programme. the countries, the challenges, the cultures, and the airports.

i am a faithful AR watcher. so is sister pam, as well as friends steph and dale and denby and matt.

as the new season (7) has just started, i will say:

as of episode one, i have no problem with rob and amber. at first, i was hesitant, but i have to say, i liked them fine. some folk are angry that they traded in on their celebrity to get ahead, but other people trade in on their looks and youth, so hey shouldn’t rob and amber use their talents? plus, they were respectful of the other cultures they visited, tried to speak spanish when they could, and commented on the beauty of peru. no problems. freddy and kendra (winners of AR6) weren’t incredibly dislikeable people (although did you notice freddy used big words when he was wearing his glasses??), but alienated many with their constant whinging criticism of the countries they visited.

i was disappointed in the mother and son team. what sort of parent states they will lie and cheat to win? isn’t their talent enough?

very disappointed the down home boys got eliminated first round. they were good fun.

i don’t have any particular affinity with the couple hoping to put the 1 million dollars towards IVF, but i wish them luck.

but enough of that…can you fellow AR watchers tell me HOW the cameramen can possibly stay unbiased and not help the team they are filming make a crucial decision? let them know when they are stuffing it up? indicate with a nod of the head the correct road to wander down? how could you not root for the nicer couples? wouldn’t you want to help a deserving couple if you could?

both stephanie and i have husbands who travel a great deal, and there have been nights when we watch the amazing race and give each other phone commentary as it is happening. we tend to like the same teams, so no serious disagreements arise. it is a harmless, laughing time, a cyber slumber party.

stephanie’s husband dale. i have a good story about him that i kept out of my birth story. you know they were the stoic friends that prayed for us and hugged charles while i was in surgery. they were also the friends who waited outside the NICU the first night i was wheeled in there and offered us prayer and support at that time as well. good friends.

and i knew dale was desperate to make me feel better. so the day the babies are born, in the evening right before i saw their pictures, i think i saw dale briefly. not looking my best, you understand. and dale, smiling and holding stephanie’s hand, looks and me and smiles and says,

you know tess, when i first met you, i thought you were really good looking. you know, like in a way that a friend is good looking.

and i think i ran my hand through my knotted and sweaty hair, or a laugh/crying induced tear might have trailed down my face causing a divide in the mascara caked on my cheeks. and i might have said,

"and what about now, dale?"

and then we all laughed.

i watch the amazing race on television, and we live our own. and with each, stepahnie and dale are there, commenting, supporting and holding our hands as we race to the finish line, rest, pick up our bags, and start again in the morning.