jackassworld

Back in February, Eddie Barbanell invited me to join him at the winter Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho. Actually, he pretty much demanded I come. I mean, I wanted to go anyway, but Eddie was relentless like Eddie always is. Heh heh… We had a ball, too, getting to hang out together and go to the events and meet the athletes. We actually got to scrimmage against Canada in the floor hockey event. I couldn’t hang, though. My fucking back went out halfway through and I had to be substituted. You can imagine the shit I got from Eddie for that.

A big part of us going was talking to a group of high school and college kids about not judging people with mental and physical disabilities—actually, I better switch that to “different” abilities, because Eddie will be on my ass AGAIN if I say disabilities—but, like I was saying, instead of judging and looking over your glasses at them how about being more open and engage them in conversation? Spend some time with them and be their friend. I’m not trying to preach to you here on jackassworld, I’m just trying to tell you Eddie Barbanell means the world to me and having the honor of working with the Special Olympics has been an intensely positive experience.

Anyway, Boise was a flamin’ ball and I want to thank Tim Shriver, his family, and everyone at the Special Olympics for letting me attend. And of course I want to thank Eddie.

Sincerely and love,

Knoxville

(photo by Naomi Nelson; Boise, Idaho; 2009)

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