I’m not much into reality TV, but when Mr. Andi came home last spring and told me that CMT was filming a reality show here in Mayberry, I knew we’d have to watch it, no matter what the subject matter was. “Sweet Home Alabama” debuted this summer as a Bachelor-style show inspired by the movie of the same name: ten “city” guys vs. ten “country” guys vying for the heart of a Southern woman.
We watched the show religiously – mostly because it was fun to see places and people that we knew. Tribble Reese, the Southern guy who finished second in the first season, came back this fall as the bachelor looking for love in season 2. Mr. Andi was less enthused about the show by then, but I continued to watch.
The finale for season 2 was Friday night, and the last two women were a Yankee girl (literally – she works for the New York Yankees) and a local nursing student, Tristan. For their final date, Tribble and Tristan spent part of the day at a party for kids at the Rileigh & Raylee Angel Ride Foundation’s annual Angel Ride event.
The Angel Ride is an annual event that attracts thousands of motorcycles from around the USA. Over 10,000 attend the two-day event filled with music, auctions, drawings, and (of course) food and beverages; funds raised for the Rileigh & Raylee Angel Ride Foundation assist children and their families with special medical needs. Rileigh, one of the Foundation’s namesakes, is a fourth grader here in Mayberry and has Down syndrome (you may have seen her first deer hunt video on this past weekend’s Sun-Beams).
Of course, I was pleased to see that my fave bachelorette chose something worthwhile for her final date with Tribble. Just a few minutes into the date, however, I saw something even more exciting – a familiar face! One of the children featured at the party was our friend, Savannah. She’s an adorable fourth grader with Down syndrome whose family we’ve come to know in recent months.
But after Tribble’s whirlwind trip to the city of opportunity, New York, I wondered aloud to Sarah Kate and Mr. Andi if a day out with some kids who have special needs would win him over. Would a young single guy (who, I must point out, grew up in the South, but most assuredly not in the country) go for the small town girl with the big heart?
I needn’t have wondered. During his post-date interview, tough-guy-former-college-football-player Tribble teared up while talking about the kids he met that day. And sure enough, in the end he picked Tristan, the girl with the big heart.
“I feel like I could live a happy life if I could do this every day.” – Tribble Reese’s reaction to spending time with kids at the Angel Ride
Southern girls and special needs for the win!
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Find the full episode of the Sweet Home Alabama season 2 finale here. To watch just the part with the Rileigh & Raylee Angel Ride Foundation, skip ahead to 16:00.
Andi, I love all your blogs but this is one of my favorites. And I felt the same way about Tristan and Tribble when they visited with the sweet children. They won my heart.