Now, I never actually met Ray but I’ve met a lot of folks in his family and from all evidence he was an amazing man.
Last Saturday I headed over to Rhode Island to hang out with some friends 🙂
The occasion was the Tenth (and, <sob>, Final) Ray Lang Memorial Golf Tournament the proceeds of which go to the Tug McGraw Foundation (for whom I am also running the Marine Corps Marathon this year…hint, hint….)
The day started out looking a bit cloudy, really quite dark in Connecticut and things didn’t seem to be improving on the drive over… I picked up Kathy and we headed to the country club where we were greeted by all of our Lang/Rousseau/Gabriel friends. Seriously, I’ve only known most of these folks for a few years but from the beginning they’ve made me feel like family.
After seeing the golfers off
And….they’re off!!
We started setting up for the raffle that takes place during/after dinner
And there are always lots of great prizes and I pick out the ones I want while we’re setting up. Sadly, I have learned no way to rig things so that I win all the ones I want!! (But, spoiler, I did win something in that second picture up there!)
This year there was even a super special prize:
Hard Rock Cafe guitar signed by Guy Fieri
And my friend Mike won that one – hope it, and he, got home safely!!
After setting up the raffle, Kathy and I headed out to the 4th hole for the super important job of witnessing for a “Hole in One” prize (another spoiler)..
This is the ball that got *closest* to a Hole in One.
It was hard work, but we managed.
And it was a really happy day!!
And how could it not be with THIS kind of sky:
When the last group came by we headed back in to get our raffle tickets and get ready for dinner!!
One of these is a winner….ONE 🙂
As usual it was great Italian food, and as usual, the raffle was almost as much for for the ‘losers’ as the winners!! Pete gave a great speech and another fantastic day came to an end. And for the final event, the numbers were GREAT! More golfers than ever before and more people at dinner than ever before — there were even tables full of people outside of the tents!!
Congratulations Pete (and everyone else, especially his mom Debra Lang Bush) for an amazing event – and we all know that Ray is super proud of all ya’ll have accomplished in the last 10 years!
Oh yeah…what did I win? Only the most perfect thing I could’ve won! Though, the beer..um, soda cooler shaped like a canoe would’ve been neat too!!
My new suitcase!!! And a pillow. This baby’s going to Disney World!!!
outrunningthefork 
Tell Me Somethin' Good!!