I’m so pleased the Olympics went off relatively smoothly, because I was afraid they wouldn’t.
As I watched these games it occurred to me just how little I remember of Athens in 2004. Those games passed in the understandable blur that any occasion would pass when you have a four month old baby and you’re a first-time mother and you’re still trying to get a handle on your new life. Which is a shame but, really, my viewing pleasure of the Olympics paled in comparison with my need for sleep. It was the higher priority.
How a few years changes everything.
It was fascinating to see which sports snagged and kept each of my children’s interest. Keira enjoyed watching the swimming and the gymnastics (guess who’s signed up for classes now, eh? The sporting industry will PEAK these coming months, I reckon, with new club registrations and such.) Riley was besotted by the BMX riders and the basketball.
Next to their full throated barracking for the Aussies, which was very cute and amusing, Keira also expressed her devotion to the Spaniards.
“Are there any Spanish people in this race?”
“No, Keira.”
It took me a while to figure out that she was really going for ‘Dora’s people’ (because Dora the Explorer speaks Spanish) and then I had to explain that Dora is actually Mexican. Which then added a third country to Keira’s list of ‘People to Cheer.’
But no-one could top this person:
Stephanie Rice has a new fan. A devotee. A willing acolyte.
Any sport which had water, any kind of water (even a pond for the equestrian horses to splash through), brought the inevitable question, “Where’s Stephanie?” “I want Stephanie.”
Which would all point to why now Ms. Rice is reportedly worth millions in potential sponsorship. My daughter, indirectly, could be helping her pay her bills in the years to come.
Before my daughter becomes a hero herself in the 2024 games, in the newly introduced sport of Tunnel Racing:
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, the are over. I laughed when you said you missed the 2004 Olympics in a blur. I remember missing them when my kids were little. I felt so out of the loop when people talked about them. That said, I’ve missed the last 5 days of them…just too busy to turn on the TV.
Kacey’s last blog post..Life in Focus-Lavender
It’s over?
Seriously.
Over?
Yes I have three kids under 5. I guess that explains it.
Dr. Cason’s last blog post..Proof that Photos Don’t Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful
And now for some real heroes to take to the field – the Paralympics!
Jayne’s last blog post..Trivial History August 25
Indeed, Jayne. *nods head emphatically*
My interest in the Olympics is non existent but my girls are determined to become Olympic swimmers having watched the Aussies in the pool at Beijing.
I’m happy with anything that keeps them enthusiastic to go to swimming lessons during the cold Melbourne winter.
Marita’s last blog post..Going to Church
Yes, I’m suffering from a little post-Olympics blues myself today. Beijing was the first Olympics I had actually watched in well over a decade and I enjoyed it so much I want to actually be there in London 2012!
Deborah Robinson’s last blog post..Business Conference in South Sydney
Stephanie was never mentioned in Britain. Sounds a good competitor.
Jean-Luc Picard’s last blog post..Wesley & Karena’s Honeymoon (Part One)
The Queen was born in January 2004. I didn’t even remember the Olympics were in Athens that year until you mentioned it. When the kids are older we may have to find a way for them to watch the Olympics. I do miss that about not having TV.
And we’ll definitely be cheering Keira on in 2024. (If I’m not senile by then. Which is possible. I’ll be 62 with 2 kids in college. Yikes.)
Deb – I’d love to go to London too! That seems more ‘doable’ than Beijing was!
ps janet I hven’t even done the math about what age I’ll be in 2024. I’m scared too!
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