As you’ve likely gathered from previous posts, daddy was obsessed with Survivor. As one of the original reality TV shows, it took the world (and daddy’s heart) by storm.

For the first three seasons, he watched each episode religiously, considering each players’ moves, strategies, alliances and strengths. As someone who enjoyed gambling, it’s also no surprise that he had a blast making predictions about each players’ fate, particularly with his co-workers.

In 2001, during the airing of Survivor’s second season (Australian Outback), my third-grade teacher challenged all families to a week free from technology. “Unplug the computers and TVs,” she said. “Play outside, cook, read, whatever. Spend time as a family.”

Although mom and dad agreed to the challenge, daddy had one major qualm to iron out before signing the pledge. He wanted to know if we could plug the TV in on Thursday to set up the VHS player to record Survivor (priorities).

That Thursday night, he walked past the TV no less than 30 times. The record light on the VHS player was killing him. He wanted needed to know what was happening!

On another note, in March of 2001, mom and dad ran into a Survivor contestant, Maralyn “Mad Dog” Hershey, in the Richmond International Airport while taking my Flat Stanley on their anniversary celebration to Aruba. I think daddy was easily the most excited about Flat Stanley’s photo-op with this BIG TIME celebrity!