Last summer, one of our most favorite guest weekends was the week of the
Mud Race held in Quarryville. We all wondered about it as the one guest
who was participating talked about the event in future tense. He was
excited and he was so pumped for the race and prepared and very
disappointed that his buddies stood him up. They (his buddies) had
talked about it for the past year and wanted to join him but in the end,
he was here for the race ALONE as he had no team to enjoy it with. What
he did have was guts and determination and spirit and that’s what he
spread around at his overnight spot here in Lancaster County.
The other guests rallied around him. No one else was interested in that
particular race, it was muddy and crazy. They loved sharing his
anticipation and his enthusiasm for what was his fun of choice for the
weekend. They all wished him well over morning coffee and they all
watched as he carried his duffle bag full of clothing (well t-shirt and
shorts and EXTRA clothing) that we all knew he would need for his ride
home and for his pass back into this bed and breakfast place. No one
wanted to see mud and no one wanted to have to deal with that on his
return. EVERYONE hoped he'd have a great time and push beyond his limits
and feel the satisfaction of being a bit on the crazy side and
experience the push-through needed to make it at the mud race.
Hours passed and everyone had plans
We were all here to welcome him back. Everyone wanted to see what his
enthusiasm got him and if it was all he hoped for and dreamed for. We
all wanted him to have something to take back to his buddies who had
decided last minute to not show up. His face said it all... HE MADE IT
TROUGH. It was harder than he thought it would be and had many more
obstacles than he expected. The race brought him more satisfaction than
was hoped for, to feel the ability to do something this crazy and this
challenging was more fun and more rewarding than anything. HE WAS
SMILING BIG!
There are so many things that happen in Lancaster County that are less
fun and challenging, at the same time Lancaster offers so much to be
enjoyed and experienced. It truly is a destination with unusual
offerings and something for everyone, the mud race just an example of
fun that is individualized. What I loved most about that day was how ALL
OF OUR GUESTS rallied and lived their lives through the life of this
mud race athlete. He came alone without teammates and without family and
how everyone rallied around him. It was truly a weekend to remember. It
had little to do with the race or entertainment choices but rather had
so much more to do with people and how they stepped up to make it GREAT
weekend for another person in their group. The only thing they had in
common at the beginning of the weekend is that they ended up at the same
place for very different reasons. I believe they went home richer for
the experience of sharing together the excitement of a housemate who
found people who cared about him and about him having a great time.
That’s one thing that sets bed and breakfasts apart ... people finding
connections with each other and realizing OTHER reasons to choose to
come here. We love seeing that happen over and over again.
Submitted by: Carl and Sharon Shirk, Innkeepers at the Stumptown Manor B&B
