I never was much of a fan of the show “A-Team” that appeared on TV during my college years. Back then I had little time to watch anything but sports.
But it seems an expression from that show has crept into my jargon.
At the end of each episode, after all the explosions and chaos and narrow escapes, Hannibal, the leader of the A-Team, played by George Peppard, would light up a cigar and say, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
He delivered the line as though the whole convoluted tale was part of his plan.
In fact, viewers knew things had worked out regardless and in spite of his plan.
For almost nine months, I had been imagining a plan for the September 13 One Square Mile Of Hope as I was put in charge of logistics.
The plan was to make the event fool proof, smooth and seamless.
The committee of great folks who put on One Square Mile Of Hope were up to the task, each taking on different assignments such as registration, Web Tech, sponsorship, silent auction, food, wellness, and so much more.
I was fooled into thinking I could say, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Or maybe, take on the persona of Mr. T and pipe in with, “I pity the fools who want to break our record,” once we were done with the event.
Each portion of the event could not have been part of any real plan when decisions were made on the fly and in the heat of the moment for the best outcome.
I can say there were a whole lot of volunteers, more than a hundred, who were wiling to take our crazy notes and short advice and dive in to help the event move like a well-oiled machine.
I had never met most of the participants before, but their total excitement and energy was contagious and kept me going in high gear despite the little sleep I had in the four days leading up to it.
And despite how convoluted it may have seemed while we were doing it, we get to celebrate a more than $100,000 donation to breast cancer research and a World Record.
The plan has come together!
Growing up here has many fine benefits that I am able to write about each and every week.
But living here and seeing the accomplishments of so many great folks makes me say, “I pity the fools who don’t live here.”
Mitch Lee, Adirondack native & storyteller,
lives at Inlet. ltmitch3rdny@aol.com