(Spoiler warning: Amazing Race results will be discussed. I stayed up half the friggin’ night to watch it, so if you taped it you’d better quit now if you don’t want to know who won. And yes, staying up until 11 pm does count as half the friggin’ night when your day begins at 4:45 am.)
Hooray for Uchenna and Joyce, winners of the 7th edition of the Amazing Race. I’m a big consumer of reality TV, but this show is my favourite by far, and I have to say it was one of the more enjoyable races they’ve had. I have to admit that seeing Rob and Amber come in second was a sweet victory in itself – second as opposed to first, I mean – but in my humble opinion Joyce and Uchenna were the only couple truly worthy of winning the whole thing.
How could you not cheer for this couple? He has been the quintessential gentleman, from his loving support when Joyce had to cut off her hair, to helping the old couple complete their tasks, to refusing to race for the finish line until his taxi driver was paid. I thought I was going to have an aneurism watching them beg strangers for taxi fare mere steps away from the finish line. Could you see Rob Mariano doing that?
Uchenna and Joyce showed grace, sportsmanship, thoughtfulness and kindness at every turn. If only half the people in the world were as good-hearted as these people, imagine what a wonderful world it would be. (Apologies to John Lennon and Louis Armstrong.)
Of course, before the race even started, they were my sentimental favourites. The pre-show publicity alluded to the fact that they wanted to earn the million dollar prize to help fund another attempt at in vitro fertilization (IVF). I already had tears in my eyes for them when they won, but when they were standing on the winner’s mat and Uchenna yelled, “In vitro here we come!” I couldn’t help but cry. And then he said, “And if in vitro doesn’t work, adoption!” and I was officially a sobbing mess.
A couple of thoughts are struggling to get out here. First, how amazing would it be to watch the early shows today and hear that Joyce is pregnant? Wouldn’t that just make your day? Based on the Christmas decorations in one of the airports, the finale was filmed in December, so she’s had plenty of time to do a cycle or two.
Second, if you were a birth mother, wouldn’t you be falling all over yourself to ask these people to adopt your kid? Hell, I want them to adopt me! I’m fairly confident that they will manage to fulfil their dream of parenthood now, and that makes me very happy for them.
Third, and this is the big “but” where I get on my soap box, how sad is it that a couple who loves each other, who are obviously so good-hearted, who really seems like they would be just the kind of parents we want raising the next generation of our species – why is it that they have to resort to winning a million bucks on a reality TV show to have a family? It just makes me think of all the infertile couples I know who haven’t been lucky enough to find that miracle funding, and it makes me a little bit sad, even as I cheer for Uchenna and Joyce.
If I had more time, more energy, more clarity of thought, this would be a much more harshly worded criticism of the access to reproductive technologies in the US and Canada, but I just don’t have it in me right now. But think about it, will you? Maybe some day I’ll come back and write this up properly.
In the interim, congratulations to a truly worthy Uchenna and Joyce. I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful and happy family.
I watched it too and along with you, was a blubbring mess when they WON!!! WOO-HOO!!! And just reading your blog brought tears to my eyes again when you quoted Uchenna yelling his ‘victory statements’ about what they will do with their money.
U & J were simply my fave, honestly not so much due to the IVF factor, but just that they are such GOOD people, just as you have so accurately pointed out.
How fun it would’ve been to watch this with you Danigirl…your accounts of how you felt and reacted (re: aneurism) as I was exactly the same. I will also be yawning along with you today. Pass the coffee please (hope that’s tnot too many points)
Dani, you took the words right out of my mouth!(much more eloquently I may add!) I have never been happier for a couple I’ve never met and was literally on the edge of my seat when Uchenna was begging for money. I cried tears of joy when they won and am anxiuosly waiting for updates on their IVF cycles!!! What a truly amazing couple!!!! Perhaps they should become motivational speakers?!
Now, on to more important things…….who is going to win American Idol?!!! LOL
Ann
Ohhh Dani, so well said!! I kind of cheated, we were busy last night so taped it but ended up watching the end when I got home cuz I just had to know who won! I too was rooting for them all the way. Would so love to hear an update from them. Actually wouldn’t it be cool to have a “Whatever happened to AR winners?” show.
happy counting 😉
Count me in on those jumping around the living room. Although someone on IVFC posted a bit of a spoiler a couple days ago (grrrrr).
I was wondering if one of the rules of AR was that you had to pay all cabbies. Surely they could have taken off, and said they would be back in a few minutes, and the cabbie could see the TV cameras. I really got the impression it may have been a rule of the show.
Although even if it weren’t, I’m pretty sure Uchenna would have done the same thing. I love them both.
I’m thinking they may have held off before starting another cycle. As they would well know the physical, emotional, mental toll that a cycle takes, and knowing the publicity they would need to do in conjunction with the finale, perhaps they would wait until this publicity rush was over?
Hard to say, I’m sure we will find out soon enough.
So am I going to be the only loser watching Rob and Amber’s wedding?
Snack Mommy
We can watch the wedding together. Get the TV and MSN ready!
I sobbed when U&J won and sobbed outloud when U yelled In Vitro here we come and then totally lost it when he mentione(yelled) about the adoption. Even Dh had a tear in his eye and he only watched the last hour of the entire race!
Congrats to Dani too on her 5000th hit!
CJ
I don’t watch AR but it sounds like the best people won. Hopefully it sheds light on the fact that ART is NOT paid for and is out of the reach of so many potentially great parents.
Danigirl, as the others have commented you took the words out of my mouth! I was a mess watching the finale, and dh was just as happy. Although I will admit that I think Rob and Amber are cute and will be watching their wedding 😉 As for the whole access to ivf thing, I could go on with you. I would love to have a million dollars to give it another go, however, we have been truly blessed already with our little J that I cannot complain one bit. Until ivf becomes more available we will pray for a miracle the old fashion way 😉
Tears and Cheers along with you,
they were the only ones worthy of winning in my humble opinion too> NICE PEOPLE! I loved them through it all. And I’m sooo glad that the Mr. POW and Miss Beauty pagent came in last…to me they were by far the most annoying couple. I even mention the 2 that came in second. 😉
NOW On to Bo winning AI and then comes CI….I’m ready for the summer!
I totally agree Danigirl!
I taped it and DH and I were tearfully overjoyed. Great sentiments.
I just watched it (a few days late I know!) but wow!!! I am so happy for Uchenna and Joyce. I will be scouring news articles for news of their baby’s entrance into the world whether it be ivf or adoption. What a neat couple. I’m so happy for them!
Oh and thanks for giving a warning at the beginning of this post! I could’ve blown it for myself!