Feb 1 - all about Shab

We drove down to Boca Raton, met up with Hamid who had flown down, exchanged messages with Alain & Vita, Jim S ... all was ready.

Shab was being presented with the American Randonneur Award, which is awarded annually to someone who had done a lot for our sport.  Shab has been like our emmisary to the world, working controls in the UK, Canada, Ireland, all over the US and helping riders in Italy and wherever else we've been.  She loves the work and does the work even if Hamid isn't not doing that ride.  She gives to the sport and gets nothing back.

Often the reward is given to someone who is well known, rides all over and volunteers in their region.  Shab, like Jennifer Wise, is all about being a volunteer.

She was blown away.  Hamid, Sandy and I met and Hamid headed to the restaurant with Sandy. I went to pick up Shab, who thought that she was having lunch with me and then I was taking her to the airport.  We got to the Olive Garden and the waitress said "for two ?" and Shab said yes; I said quietly "There's a group here ?" and she pointed the way.  She couldn't have been more surprised.  It was amazing. 

What an occasion.  Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime. 

We were back home around 5pm, stopping at Oceans Seafood along the way (out of the way) to pick up some Mahi Mahi. 

To top off the day, it started with an email from PayPal that they'd finally accepted all my documents and I was on the account.  That's only taken a year. 

What a day. 

Onward !