Loving The Olympics

 

Anyone else spent the last 16 days watching the Olympics?  Boy, I have, to the point where I have almost driven my poor husband bonkers.  He’s not into athletics as I am.  I’ve even watched it at 4:30 AM when I couldn’t sleep…luckily for Pete that was while he was in Buffalo. 

So, it began all the way back to 1960 when they were first televised in the US.  I’m sure it was Dad who turned the Games on and got the 4 of us hooked on watching.  (As I am writing this, I have the women’s gold medal basketball game playing in the background, 1:46 left to play.  Yeah, they won the gold, by 1 point!!!)  Anyway, sorry for the distraction.  From then forward, I was hooked. 

I was glued to the TV during the 1984 Soviet vs US Hockey game.  It was just a few years later when I was in Lake Placid and attended a hockey game in that same arena.  I was livid during the Harding/Kerrigan scandal.  Michael Phelps definitely had my attention as did Nadia Comeneci, Mark Spitz and many, many others. 

I pushed my family to attend the 1996 Summer games in Atlanta which they did for me.  Mom, Dad, brother, husband, step-daughter, we had a blast. In 2002 for the Winter Games in Salt Lake City I convinced two friends to join me.  They weren’t super into the sports, but they did greatly enjoy the adventure.  Even forked over big bucks to attend opening ceremonies in Salt Lake City which I have never once regretted.  That was such a special evening. 

I applied to be a volunteer at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, but that didn’t work out….never heard a word from them.  While I worked at J&J they held a competition for the 2004 Summer Olympics for employees to write an essay on why they should get to go to the Games as a company reporter, I submitted an essay.  Heard through the company communications that they had so many applicants that most of us never heard a thing back from them. 

I will no doubt stay home for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina and be just as glued to the TV.  I look forward to 2028 Summer Olympics games in LA.  Might have to start saving my pennies for that one!!!