118: The Beaver Glue

Just like senior year of high school with Normie...this blog-a-palooza will come to an end -- too soon, yet not soon enough. That is the fun of RAGBRAI, just when you are done telling the story of last year, there is a new year on the horizon. New teammates. new hopes (Goldie doing a whole week? The Dale comin' back for a sequel? Ma.Sing.Ga riding it with the new-found gusto of a non-newbie? The Boss and The Mayor returning to RABRAI synchronizaion?), and new adventures.

If you already couldn't tell, it is Steven. My favorite new game is to sneak into Normie's account and whip up some Team Beaver West magic.

I think it is time that we focus on our Beaver Glue -- Norman.

Look, us Beavers are a fun and scrappy little crew. We all have our weird idiosyncrasies that somehow come together into one ball of beaver fun. We all bring talents to the table...but the Beaver Matriarch is the one that brings them all together. She ignores the bullshit that spews from our mouths....

• The Mayor and his weather schizophrenia ("It's not hot! It's perfect! It's RAGBRAI!), 
• The Boss and her...well, bossiness, 
• Goldie and her "my Facebook name"-ness,
• Rrrrrryan and his unfortunate burgerlessness and ability to wrangle Goldie, 
• Ma.Sing,Ga and her Silent Bob approach to hard days on RAGBRAI, 
• Pokey and her optimism and pack-it-all-in-ness, 
• Grandpa and his Go-Pro-ing, 
• The Deb and her ability to write blog posts that don't actually mention the team members at all,
• The Dale and his alleged ninja-sagging
• Too Much and his sunscreen propaganda and end-of-the-week-food-belly
• Fall Out Boy and his wristband shenanigans

and steers us year after year to RAGBRAI glory.

For someone that hates spreadsheets and doesn't believe in listening to voicemail, Normie still manages to check all the boxes in the RAGBRAI-planning checklist and make sure all the Beavers and bikes are transported and accounted for.

She is the only person I know that can tell a story that transcends mileage (even when said mileage is in teeny-tiny circles).

She somehow manages to make any RAGBRAI situation a fun adventure worthy of the story-telling it will receive in December. I think Normie mentioned my comment at some point in one of her blog posts -- but I find myself thinking it often on RAGBRAI. "I can not wait to read how Normie describes this moment." Her perspective makes things that much funnier.

That said, it hasn't been an easy winter for our Beaver-in-Chief. And I think a little toast is in order -- to thank Normie for her Beaver service, loyalty, and willingness to engage in all things shenanigan.

So, Normie -- here's to you. For your amazing ability to put up with all of our shit. For leading the colony into fun...and then telling one badass recap of it every winter. For putting up with me yelling at you at least once on every RAGBRAI. For always looking out for a fellow Beaver. For loving RAGBRAI in all its glory.

You make our ride...and our lives better.