I love the Olympics

I have been privileged to live in an Olympic City twice in my life. We lived in Los Angles during the 1980 summer games, and in Salt Lake City in 2002. Yes, I know the Olympics are a den of iniquity and commercialism, but I'm not focusing on that today.

My first Olympic memory is on a very hot summer day. We sat on the corner by a Conroy's flower shop waiting for the torch to come by. There were a lot of people around, and it was very hot. Finally the torch came by and we all cheered.

Later on, after the Opening Ceremonies in Los Angles, my dad took us all downtown to see the sights. Traffic was awful. I remember buses being escorted by heavy police escort from the Opening Ceremonies to their dorms. My dad said they were countries who were dangerous to us in the US. (I bet they were in more danger than we were.) While in this traffic jam on the LA city streets, we talked with a man from Nigeria hanging from his window in his dorm, while we hung out of the windows of the car. I remember the traffic was so bad, that my mom and I got out of the car, went to a McDonald's, bought drinks, and came back to the car, which had moved about half a block. Funny, it is one of VERY few times, I don't remember my father getting really upset about the traffic. I remember this as a very fun time. We later on went to the Soul Korea house, and got fans that said "See you in Soul, 1988."

In the preparation for 2002 games, it was again a summer day, when while working at a nursing home as a nurses aide, we gathered in a resident's room to watch the TV and see the announcement. When Juan Antonio Samaranch announced the games go to "the City of Salt Lake City" we started yelling and dancing. A supervisor came to see what was going on, and she joined in.

When it came closer to the Olympics, I signed up to be a volunteer. I was assigned to be a volunteer at the Olympic Village. I had just started a new job, and was told I could not have the time off, so I let the position pass. I was very angry when 2 days into Olympics that job ended. I did have a lot more free time to enjoy the games. Vince and I stood for 8 hours to purchase a Roots beret. He had worked a grave yard the night before and was exhausted. I went to the Olympic area several times to look around and see the sights. I was able to see a concert by Martina McBride, but they canceled the medals ceremony that was supposed to go along with the concert. My brother took us to a bunch of the hospitality houses. We ate weird food and got cool souvenirs.

The highlight of the Olympics here in Salt Lake for me was getting to go to the dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremonies. It was magnificent, and I have never been so proud to be a Utahan. I have a picture of me all bundled up, because it was about 5 degrees that night. My contact lens fell out during "She'll be coming around the mountain" because it was so cold. I had to pick it up off the floor of the stadium, put it in my mouth, and then shove it into my eye, because there was no way I could see the show, or drive home, with only one contact. There were military with big guns all over the place, I felt like I had left the US and went to LALA land. I said to one of the soldiers, sarcastically "Welcome to Utah" and he replied thanks with a thick southern accent. I felt bad about that, so I stopped mocking the guards. I bought an over priced butt pillow, and really overpriced hot dogs and hot chocolate. Honestly, the Opening Ceremonies were wonderful.

I also got to see the Torch a couple of times. The torch ran by my backyard, so I went and stood in the snow and cheered. I saw it when it was by my work, and we stood is slush and waited. I got to hold a torch, as I just happened to be leaving the grocery store when a bus dropped off a bunch of torch carriers. I got to hold one. They were quite light, from what I had thought they would weight.

Vince got to work up at SnowBasin, and got to see much of the action there. He got a green coat. He and I were able to go to the Opening Ceremonies for the Paralympics. Where we were sitting, we could high five the athletes as they got to their seats. Watching the torch be lit was amazing. It was pouring, and Stevie Wonder sang a song about "Its raining and I'm happy, It's pouring and this is fun." They gave us all plastic ponchos, so the rain was better than the super cold.

The Olympics were an amazing time, and I hope to be able to participate in them again. I'm wearing my Opening Ceremonies pin, (0347/2002) and my Roots Beret today in honor of the Olympics. Sad, I stood in Line for 8 hours to get this Beret, sold one on eBay for $75 and they are currently going for $1.99 here. I am going to order this hat so I have one. I also bought a hat from the summer games in Athens, so I am starting a collection.