The games, the stories, the best!!

I am so very entertained by many aspects of The Olympic Games. The opening ceremonies offer a wide range of diversity in their programs. I can recall a Los Angeles show that ended with many women dressed in beautiful blue, flowing gowns seated at 85 individual grand pianos playing Gershwin tunes. It was visually and auditorally stunning!! Also stunning but in a 'far out' way was France's opening ceremony. My son[ 11 at the time] and three other buds were camped out on the living room floor on a Friday night while Cathy[mom of 3 buds] and I were amazed at how 'bizarre' it seemed to us. And then there was Beijing. Beijing's ceremony was in a class all by itself. Every time I thought it couldn't get more surprising...it did. Unbelievable!

I often think about past games' surprises. Topping the list has to be the 1980 miracle hockey
team that won the gold. The excitement was over the top in our living room as well as on the ice!! Jer was a mere baby, and now he does 'play by play' hockey as one of his [favorite] jobs! Hockey must have a genetic link.

Perhaps my second favorite upset had to be when 'the perfect storm' lined up with all of the planets in rotation....and Sarah Hughes was suddenly the gold medal winner. She was in the dressing/ training room with her coach when someone else's scores mathematically put Sarah in the spotlight. It was 'out of the world unexpected' given the women competing with Sarah. Sixteen years old and in high school, unpretentious and refreshing...it was awesome [truly] to behold!

Torvill and Dean were poetry in motion. Mesmerizing and perfect, they made it look so effortless! You couldn't take your eyes off of their routine of grace and fluidity.[Is that a word?}

I often have to catch myself leaning in an effort to help in some way.

Snowboarding races, skiing acrobatics, and wasn't it fun when there was a bobsleigh team from Jamaica!! I find myself rooting for people and teams based on some of the background stories that are shared. The training and work involved that is necessary to achieve an Olympic level chance to compete is in itself beyond my scope of reality.

And so, for two weeks, let the games reign. It is so different from regular TV programming. There is no sex, violence, murder, bad language, etc.

My prayers go to the family and friends of the luge fatality. A horrible accident.

We do not have the ability to change it, and so in his honor and with a prayer in our heart, I believe we must focus on the athletes who are still competing with all the effort, honor, and energy that they can muster for the occasion.

The awards ceremonies...the national anthems...the pride of accomplishment...well, it does a heart good!!!

I love these games.