My dirt bike'n "lunch buddy", Dallas

Above, is a short clip of my buddy Dallas riding the "dirt bike trail." The trail is behind the Mormon Church, adjacent to the Water District land and Perrigo Woods Trail. Just as soon as the drier months of Spring arrive, Dallas and his pals soup up their BMX bikes, fix-up the course and hit the jumps.

Dallas and his chums spend much of the summer "hanging out" here and at the Edge Skateboard Park. He bikes .5 miles from his home to the trail almost every afternoon and weekend. I don't know what he'd do to fill the empty hours without these parks.

I met Dallas in the Horace Mann El. "Lunch Buddy" mentoring program when he was in 2nd grade. We've been spending lunch and recess together, once a week for five years now. Dallas graduates this year and I hope the junior high will have a mentoring program. They did once before.

The Mann Lunch Buddy program currently has 25 volunteer mentors. Our hearts are filled by these children. We come back year after year. Kids who have lunch buddies are recognized and admired by their peers. Some are shy or have single parents and all love being in the program.

Dallas and I are usually one of the first to get lunch. We don't have to eat in the cafeteria, usually preferring to eat in our "clubhouse" by the stairway. We often play games in the gym before heading out to the soccer fields. Sometimes we visit his desk and artwork. Or, look for BMX bike parts on the school computer. Over time, I've gotten to know his mother, Lisa, and little brother Cruz and our families do cool stuff together.

The program wouldn't exist without the passionate commitment of office managers, Ann Glassey (rt) and Susan Nauman. (lft). They keep the program going on a shoe-string and a trickle of money from United Way donations. But, mostly it's a labor of love. Every year Ann and Sue hold an ice cream social; they do craft projects to make holiday gifts for us; they match us up; and they work with the parents, mentors, buddies and counselors to improve our lives.

If you are interested in learning more about the Lunch Buddy program at Horace Mann, please contact Ann Glassey or Sue Nauman at 425-881-9696.