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As family watches, Maysville's Hall pushes her team
Friday, September 30, 2005 11:38 AM EDT
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| Family members of Cindy Hall gathered at O'Rourke's Pub Thursday night to watch the third installment of 'Survivor: Guatemala.' Cindy's mother Bonnie Carney and her twin sister Mindy Hall cheered as the show began. Chuck Carney, Bonnie's husband was also in attendance. Terry Prather/Staff |
Carney is the mother of Cindy Hall, a Mason County High School graduate, who is one of the contestants on the CBS show "Survivor: Guatemala." Carney, who lives in Florida, is visiting the Maysville area with her husband Chuck. Carney was not the only family member to turn up at O'Rourke's -- twin sister Mindy graced the pub with her identical image of Cindy. They came to the party armed with pictures and stories of the Jungle Girl.
"She's tough. I'm not the least bit worried about her," Carney said of her daughter.
Carney believes Cindy is sizing up her tribe members before making any moves. Her strategy might be working. Nakum, Cindy's tribe, pulled through for the second time to win the challenge and immunity.
Carney knows that Cindy has what it takes to be a successful tribe member. Her daughter is tough, strong and willing to take control of a dangerous situation.
"She saved a person's life," Carney said. "Her boss at the zoo, the one who fired her, was attacked by a cat. He is a cat trainer. He was putting one away and it turned. The cat attacked and Cindy was walking by."
Cindy grabbed a water hose to force the cat, which was probably a tiger Carney said, off her boss. Then she handed the hose to another zoo keeper while she went into the cage to pull the man free.
Cindy lost her job when she was chosen for a spot on the show. Carney said that although Cindy loved her job, she knew it was time to move on.
"She would say every morning when she went to work, that she couldn't believe she was paid to care for animals," Carney said. "She kissed wild animals on the mouth."
Sister Mindy Hall agreed that Cindy's love of animals sets her apart from other people. But for Mindy, Cindy has always been a hero.
"Survivor or no Survivor she is a unique person," Hall said. "I hope people realize how passionate she is about the environment. She is an advocate of the environment. She is changing my lifestyle with her passion."
Described by her twin as the coolest person on earth, Cindy practices what she preaches. Hall said Cindy lives by an old Indian saying, "Take only what I need and give back what I can."
"That is how Cindy lives," Hall said. "She functions on need not want."
Cindy's need to survive pushed her into winning the second challenge of Thursday night's show in a ball game called court ball, an ancient Mayan game.
Teams were made of three tribe members. Yaxha scored the first goal. Teams were rotated; then Cindy took the court. She tangled with Stephanie, but managed to get a score. The first team to reach five points won immunity and didn't have to vote a member out of the tribe.
After the show, Hall and Carney took a breath. They are caught up in the suspense just like everyone else. Although Cindy is home, she has not been allowed to tell her family how the show ended.
Hall knew when a ball game entered the show, her sister would fight like one of the animals she loves so much, to win.
"She is extremely competitive," Hall said.
That competitive spirit will make for a good show, according to Carney.
"Knowing her like I know her, we're in for a good ride," Carney said.
The party, sponsored by The Ledger Independent and O'Rourke's Irish Pub, picks up again next week at the pub. The Ledger Independent is selling T-shirts in honor of Cindy. The shirts cost $15 and are available Thursday nights at the pub. Proceeds go to Hurricane Katrina victims.
Contact Danetta Barker at Danetta.Barker@lee.net or call 606-564-9091, ext. 272.
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